Match Report by David Powell

Canvey Island were made to settle for a point on the road after a 0-0 draw with Corinthian Casuals at King George’s Fields.

On a late winter's afternoon in Tolworth, the Gulls were frustrated by their relegation battling hosts and, despite having plenty of possession and attacking pressure, couldn't find the killer chance to snatch a goal.

A bright start to the game saw Joe Paxman have a shot cleared off the line in the early stages. Corinthians might have been shocked at first, but grew more into the game as time ebbed on, forcing Bobby Mason into a good save after a cross-come-shot by Joe Halsey.

The Gulls kept pressing but couldn't get away the kind of chances they needed on a winter worn surface. Evans Kouassi saw a chipped effort just sail wide of the top corner, before Bradley Sach broke through into the penalty area late in the half, but saw his shot blocked well by Callum Coulter, the young keeper enjoying a solid game in for the hosts.

Into the second half and Canvey immediately started on the attack, with a looping header from Connor Hubble turned over the crossbar by Coulter.

Despite the Canvey pressure, Corinthians still posed a threat on the counter and arguably had one of the games best chances on 50 minutes. Good work on the attacking left saw a break into the box force a smart double save from Bobby Mason to stop them taking the lead.

Canvey dominated the last 30 minutes and, although an impressive rainbow hung across the skyline, they couldn't find their pot of gold at the end of it, continously frustrated by the hosts.

Sach came close on 75 minutes as he saw one shot blocked, with the second bite dragging just inches wide of the post.

A long period of injury time undoubtedly saw Canvey’s best two chances to win the game. Firstly, a corner whipped into the near post by Hubble was met well by the head of Charlie Edwards, forcing an impressive save from Coulter to deny him.
A short time later, a scramble in the box saw the ball fall to Jamie Salmon close to the penalty spot, but his volley at goal was blocked well by a home defender.

Eventually, time ran out for the Gulls and, despite another good performance, will feel the result was a case of two points dropped rather than a point earned.
Results elsewhere, for the most part, went in their favour, keeping them in 5th place and similarly placed to how they started the day.

They'll now have a week dust themselves down before the start of six huge games in March, Potters Bar Town the visitors to the Moviestarr Stadium on Saturday.