Matach Report by Jonathan Andrews

Canvey Island picked up a point on the road at local rivals Bowers & Pitsea, as the two sides shared a draw on Bank Holiday Monday.

In a game that very much lived up to that old football expression 'a game of two halves', the Gulls will wonder how they didn't have a more commanding lead by the break, before then counting their blessings that they escaped with a point.

Brad Wellmen made several changes to the Canvey squad from Saturday, Tobi Tinubu coming in for the injured Callum Sturgess, with Odei Martin Sorondo and Mike Finneran also making their first starts of the campaign. Bradley Sach also started in a three pronged attack.

The Gulls started the match strongly and it only took 8 minutes for them to find the back of the net. Their right hand side pestered the Bowers defence for the first 45 minutes, with the home side having no clear answer to Evans Kouassi's flair and pace. Picking up a pass from midfield, he held off his markers and placed a well weighted cross over to the back post. Bradley Sach was waiting and nodded the ball down into the patient feet of Elliott Ronto, the midfielder sending a low finish confidently past Kie Plumley to give Canvey the lead.

It was almost two on 24 minutes, a short corner routine once again playing in Elliott Ronto, though this time he saw his shot saved well by Plumley in the Bowers goal.

The chances kept on coming for the Gulls. On 34 minutes, Parish first went close after another corner saw a scramble in the box. The ball eventually found it's way to the Canvey striker, only for Plumley to scramble the ball away on his line.
Parish went close again just before half time. Great play between him and Kouassi eventually saw the striker in sight of goal with Plumley onrushing. The goalkeeper did enough however as Parish saw his shot just drift wide of the far post.

Bowers almost equalised on the stroke of half time with their first real effort of the game. Toby Ajala released a fierce strike from the edge of area that needed Byrne to dive well to his right to push the ball away and keep the scores level.

It would be a sign of things to come in the second half as the game completely turned on it's head.

Bowers came flying out of the blocks with a renewed energy and were rewarded for their quick start with a goal on 53 minutes. Ajala found a pocket of space on the Bowers left hand side and played a ball close towards goal. Emmanuel Oluwasemo rose quickest to head the ball in from a few yards out and draw the home side level.

Canvey were on the ropes as the hosts stepped up their pressure and were thankful for loanee keeper Rhys Byrne keeping them in the game. First, Bowers went close through Sonny Fish on 55 minutes, his header being well parried by Byrne from close range. Minutes later and the ball was cleared off the line following a scramble in front of the goalmouth.

Canvey needed to respond after the early setback and had a big chance of their own on 60 minutes. Another corner was floated into the box, finding Bradley Sach, who did well to get his head on the ball but his effort drifted just over the bar.

Byrne was called into action once again five minutes later as he dived well to keep out another strike from Bowers. The hosts continued to grind down the Gulls, nullifying much of the effort they put in to move the ball up the field before launching well weighted long balls into the channels to keep Canvey's full backs on their toes.

Several more half chances followed, including a half effort from Parish who struck wide of the Bowers goal, but even after five additional minutes, a winner could not be found, much to the relief of many in Canvey colours, as the Gulls were made to rue their missed chances in the first half and settle for a point against their local neighbours.

Canvey now take a week off from league action, with a tough FA Cup clash against Enfield Town coming up at the Moviestarr Stadium next Saturday.