Match Report by Jonathan Andrews
Photo Credit - Ed Boyden (Non League Paper)

Canvey Island recorded an impressive 2-0 win against high flying Bishop’s Stortford on a cold November afternoon at the Moviestarr Stadium.

The Gulls were good value for their result, controlling large spells of the game and hitting the woodwork several times before Bradley Sach and Evans Kouassi got the vital goals to seal a huge three points.

Canvey gave a debut to midfielder Charlie Edwards, who signed for the club from Corinthian Casuals midweek. Stortford meanwhile, fielded the familiar faces of ex-Gulls Frankie Merrifield and Ryan Charles in a strong lineup.

It was Stortford who had the early chances to test the Gulls rearguard. First, Jonathan Giles put a header wide of target before the same player forced the first save from Mason on 11 minutes, the Canvey keeper needing strong hands to turn the effort over.

Canvey recovered from the early pressure however, turning the match in their favour in a fiesty first half.

They could have took the lead twice in five minutes but for the crossbar to deny then on both occasions. First, Rob Girdlestone saw his header stay out after Conor Hubble delivered an accurate free kick from the left on 28 minutes, before Bradley Sach was minutes later put through on goal by Odei Martin Sorondo, with his shot beating Giddens but crashing off the bar.

Into the second half and it was the visitors who got the first big chance on 55 minutes. Ryan Charles beat the offside trap and sprinted towards goal, only to be met by the onrushing Bobby Mason, who flung over a leg to stop the wingers shot heading for goal.

Canvey began to make their dominance count soon after, the forward trio of Kouassi, Paxman and Sach causing the Stortford rear guard issue after issue. Their pressure would pay off on 59 minutes when they took the lead.

A ball from deep in midfield found Bradley Sach around 30 yards from goal. He turned his markers, zig-zagging his way into the box before firing low through Giddens legs to give Canvey a deserved lead.

It only took another four minutes for them to grab their second. The ever threatening Sach picked up a ball from Odei Martin Sorondo on the edge of the area after more probing play on the right. Chesting it down into the path of Kouassi, he controlled with one touch and unleashed a thunderbolt into the back of the net with his second to send the Canvey faithful into raptures.

Canvey could have almost had a third on 70 minutes as Kouassi broke into space again but saw his effort drift wide of the post.

Stortford rung the changes as they looked to claw their way back into the game. They found the Canvey defence well marshalled however, cutting out most of their opportunities. When they did get a sight of goal, they saw their chances either flying wide or well saved by Bobby Mason. He did well to maintain his clean sheet, particularly on 86 minutes as smotherd a goal-bound header on the line.

Canvey even had time to hit the woodwork again in injury time. Odei Martin Sorondo was brought down on the edge of the area, with substitute Callum Sturgess stepping up to take the resulting free kick, only for the crossbar to deny the Gulls for the third time that afternoon.

The full time whistle blew shortly afterwards to see Canvey record their first win against Bishop’s Stortford since 2003 and take their points tally from the current top five up to 10 from a possible 12.

The Gulls will hope to make it three wins from three on the road next week as they travel down to Herne Bay.