Match Report by Jonathan Andrews
Photo Credit - Vicki Scott

Canvey came back from a goal down on Saturday to secure a late victory against Hornchurch at the Moviestarr Stadium.

In a game that came to life in the second half, the Gulls were thankful for their strikers on the day, Danny Parish drawing them level before Bradley Sach grabbed the winner in the 90th minute.

The opening 45 minutes was a very even affair, with neither side producing much in the way of clear cut chances.

Hornchurch had the game's first opportunity at goal in the 14th minute. From a succession of corners, Joe Christou found the head of Tom Wraight in the area, but the Urchins player could only nod his chance wide of Rhys Byrne's goal.

A string of fouls from both sides allowed the opportunity for a few set pieces to be launched goalwards, but neither side could capitalise.

Canvey's first big opportunity came in the 44th minute. From the left hand side, the impressive Callum Sturgess found space to drive a low ball right in front of Joe Wright in the visiting goal. Parish was lurking, but couldn't make the vital connection needed to strike at goal. Six minute of injury time followed after an injury to the Urchin's Jordan Clark, but it accounted for little before the break.

Into the second half and the visitors came flying out of the blocks, their early pressure paying dividends as they took the lead on 49 minutes. Hornchurch drove at the Canvey goal and with their defence standing off, Remi Sutton was able to play a one-two with David Smith, allowing the former to smash home a strike from the left hand side of the box to give the visitors the lead.

Canvey didn't let their head's drop after this setback however and went close just four minutes later as a corner found Elliott Ronto in space, but the midfielder saw his effort cleared off the line to the relief of Wright in the visiting goal.

Hornchurch came forward again and almost killed the game off in the 59th minute, former Gulls man Tobi Joseph hitting a fine strike but saw his effort well saved by Rhys Byrne to keep the score at 1-0.

In the 69th minute, Canvey were forced into a double change as Sturgess sustained a nasty injury following a challenge in the centre of the park. Elliott Ronto had also been booked earlier on, so in their place, Wellmen brought on Tobi Tinubu and Bradley Sach.

The alteration in personnel and formation appeared to change the game, the Gull turning the momentum in their favor as the visitors began to sweat.

Canvey had a huge opportunity to equalise on 72 minutes as a good ball from the midfield was played straight in the feet of Danny Parish. With the offside trap beaten, the striker just beat his markers for pace but couldn't get his eventual effort past the onrushing Wright in goal.

The game took another twist on 77 minutes as the visitors were reduced to 10 men. As Canvey looked to break on the counter, Joe Christou brought down Conor Hubble just in front of the Jack King Stand. The referee adjudged the foul to be a dangerous one, producing a straight red card to send Christou for an early shower.

Canvey saw the opportunity to take something from the game begging and another big chance fell to Bradley Sach on 79 minutes, the striker controlling well in the area but seeing his shot once again saved by the impressive Joe Wright.

Eventually, their pressure would pay off however as the Gulls drew level on 85 minutes. Another superb ball was played through to find Evans Kouassi. The visiting defenders were quickly upon him, lodging the ball from his feet. The scuffed tackle fell generously to Danny Parish however, who hit a confident first time strike to finish past Wright and into the bottom right hand corner.

The 11 men quickly restarted and kept piling the pressure on the visitors. It would all come to a head in the 90th minute when the winner finally came. Kenny Clark could only turn a ball forward behind for a corner. Conor Hubble sent in a short delivery to Kouassi, who just squeezed a pass back into the box. The ball ricocheted off a defender and fell kindly to Bradley Sach just in front of goal, who couldn't miss as he struck home to send the Canvey faithful into raptures.

Hornchurch looked to reply quickly as the game went into 6 minutes of injury time, but they couldn't break down the Canvey defence, Byrne in particular commanding his area well and producing some great catches after a few corners. Eventually, the referee called time on the game to give Canvey an impressive victory.

The Gulls will need to hope their good form follows them into the quick turnaround of Bank Holiday fixtures, a trip to Bowers & Pitsea coming up on Monday.