Match Photo by Dan Goody

Canvey Island slumped to their 4th defeat of the season as they were beaten 3-0 at home by Wingate & Finchley in the Isthmian Premier Division.

On a rare off day for the Gulls, they put in a below par performance across the park, gifting three goals and three points to a side who hadn't picked up a league win until now.

The visitors looked to threaten from the opening stages of the game, moving the ball well across the park and searching for set play opportunities as they troubled Canvey's full backs.

They fired a warning shot in the first few minutes. Tobi Tinubu brought down Dernell Wynter on the right of the area. It allowed Ben Siggers to step up at hit a well struck free kick that had Mason scrambling to keep it out.

The Gulls didn't heed this warning however and found themselves behind in the 9th minute. A somewhat deja vu situation saw another Wingate player brought down in the same position. Siggers stepped up again and this time curled his free kick around the Canvey wall, leaving Mason stranded as he gave his side the lead.

Canvey struggled to get a hold in the game from the restart, moving the ball forward enough but ineffective in the final pass, allowing the Wingate defence to clean up whatever was thrown their way.

When they did get forward, the Blues continued press the Canvey defence, the Gulls thankful for a few well timed Tinubu and Girdlestone challenges to keep the visitors out. However, it was another defensive lapse that allowed Wingate to extend their lead on 23 minutes.

Another ball played in from the left seemed to pass across the edge of the box almost unopposed as Canvey failed to clear their lines. It fell to Aleko Bani on the right again, the defender taking a touch and looking straight at goal as he unleashed a thunderbolt, flatfooting Mason as his shot was buried in the back of the net.

Wingate thought they had another goal on 32 minutes, but it was chalked off for offside to spare Canvey's blushes. They knew they needed a goal back before half time to stand any chance of regaining momentum. They began to take charge of possession but their final ball let them down throughout, Ben Goode rarely challenged in the visiting goal.

The one big chance of the half came in the 44th minute. Chaos from a well delivered corner saw a pass find Joe Paxman 10 yards out with Goode stranded. It seemed he couldn't miss but, though his shot was on target, the lack of power allowed Camron Gbadebo to clear it off the line and preserve his sides lead.

Into the second half and the Gulls looked to threaten early. Some better movement in the attack had the visitors backtracking, allowing Bradley Sach to unleash a strong strike on 49 minutes that needed an equally strong save from Goode to keep it out.

Their best opportunity of the game came just a few minutes later. From a corner, the ball found Sach in the centre of the box, his bullet header beating Goode but crashing against the crossbar and bouncing down. Despite huge protests behind the goal that it had crossed the line, the referee was unmoved, Wingate managing to clear their lines after a scramble.

The visitors weathered the storm and learned their lesson, resulting in another goal on 56 minutes. The impressive Wynter once again broke down the Wingate right, dispatching Jonathan Kamara before placing an accurate pass to Dylan Kearney, who couldn't miss from just a few yards out.

The majority of the remaining time began to feel like a repeating record, with Canvey huffing and puffing but unable to properly test the visiting goal. The introduction of Callum Sturgess, Danny Parish and Odei Martin Sorondo into the game did little to change the tide as time ebbed on.

It wasn't until the 87th minute that Canvey had their final chances at goal. First Bradley Sach found himself in room to shoot but Goode was once more equal to his strike. Then minutes later, Kouassi sent a low strike goal bound but his effort glided just wide of the post.

It compounded a miserable afternoon for the Gulls. They'll now have a week to assess and prepare for the visit of Kingstonian to the Moviestarr Stadium.