Match Report by David Powell
Photo - Dan Goody

Canvey Island returned to winning ways in the league with a comfortable 3-0 victory over Folkestone Invicta at the Moviestarr Stadium.

On a cold December afternoon at home, the Gulls were dominant across the 90 minutes and controlled the majority of the game, a hat-trick from Bradley Sach the difference as they gained three vital three points to keep them in chasing pack for the playoff positions.

In frront of a decent crowd of 333, it was Canvey who started brightly as they pilled early pressure on the visiting defence.

The first chance of the game fell to the in form Charlie Edwards as he forced a good save from Bailey Vose on 14 minutes.

The near consistent Canvey pressure told as they look the lead on 24 minutes.
Evans Kouassi picked the ball up a loose ball after good Canvey pressure on the right and squared the ball to Sach in the area, the striker controlling the ball well and firing past Vose to open the scoring.

The chances kept coming for Canvey but they couldn't find the vital second before half time. The best chance again fell to Sach as he flashed a header over the crossbar from a Conor Hubble not long before the referee blew for the break.

Into the second half and, despite a brighter start from Invicta, they rarely tested Bobby Mason in the Canvey goal. The Canvey shotstopper did keep out an early effort from Ade Yusuff, but Elliot Ronto and Mason Hall dealt with everything that was thrown their way.

It left space for Canvey to counter as they once again piled on the pressure. It was only a matter of time before they'd break through again, doubling their lead on 72 minutes.
Jamie Salmon recycled a Canvey corner and slung in a good cross from the left that Hall got his head to and sent towards goal. Vose got his hands to the ball to turn it away from the goal line but could only push it into the path of Sach who bundled home from close range.

Canvey were in control of the match and pushed forward looking for a third goal to kill the game off.

Yusuff struck the post with a powerful shot on a rare sally forward for Folkestone before Sach completed his hat-trick on 87 minutes. He did well to beat the offside trap after Joe Paxman's excellent through ball and fired home to complete the scoring.

The victory takes Canvey to within 2 points of the top 5 as a long midweek trip to Hastings United beckons on Tuesday night.