Match Report by Jonathan Andrews

Canvey Island secured another big win in their quest for the playoffs as they dispatched Margate 5-2 at the Moviestarr Stadium on Saturday.

In a classic story of two halves, the Gulls weren't at their best in the opening period, indebted to Bobby Mason to keep the scoreline at just one, but came out a different animal in the second, ruthless in front of goal.

Brad Wellmen made one change from the side that drew with Bishop’s Stortford on Tuesday night, Rob Girdlestone coming in for Joe Paxman, with Elliott Ronto moving into a more attacking role.

Canvey started the game with plenty of possession, but couldn't force the issue in front of goal in the opening 30 minutes, Sach and Kouassi seeing a few half chances drift wide or into the arms of visiting keeper Daniel Jinadu.

The visitors gradually settled into the game and began to turn the rhythm of play upside down as they probed for a goal of their own.

They had the games opening chance on 12 minutes, Phil Roberts forcing Bobby Mason into a good block at his near post. Then, it was Ruben Soares-Junior, pulling the strings on the Gate's right, who launched an ambitious shot that needed a flying save from Mason to turn it over.

More neat play put the Canvey defence under pressure and saw Soares-Junior turn provider this time as he squared up Ben Greenhalgh, but again Mason was equal to his effort with an impressive stop. Then, Sam Blackman's header forced another save at the top corner before the Gulls luck finally ran dry.

Another move cut in on the left saw Sam Mvemba adjudged to have brought down his man inside the box, the referee awarding Margate a penalty. Greenhalgh stepped up and made no mistake as he gave his side a deserved lead.

Many in the crowd would have been forgiven for thinking the Gulls were in for a long afternoon at half time. They'd needn't have worried however, as the second half saw a completely different story.

Canvey turned on the style and began to look dangerous in attack once more. They forced some early set plays, with Hubble delivering plenty of good balls into the area to question the visitors defence.

One of these gave Canvey their equaliser on 54 minutes as Elliott Ronto nodded in at the near post from a corner.
It took just three minutes for them to take the lead. Evans Kouassi raced forward and jinxed into the area, leaving his markers for dust as he sliced a cool strike into the far corner of the net for his first of the afternoon.

He'd get his second on 60 minutes as the Gulls made their momentum count. Bradley Sach took the ball down just outside the box and flicked a looping strike at goal that just crashed off the visitors crossbar. Ronto was on hand to recycle the ball however and played in Kouassi, who couldn't miss from just yards out.

Margate squandered a golden chance to pull back a goal on 69 minutes, as Soares-Junior blazed over the bar from close range.

Canvey were hungry for more goals though and almost found them in the closing 15 minutes, with Edwards and Paxman firing wide after good build up play once again.

There was a twist in the tail however on 88 minutes, as Margate pulled a goal back. Good work on the counter saw a neat dummy played in to Banton, who slotted home a tidy finish despite Canvey appeals for a foul in the build up.

They'd have the last laugh however, with Kouassi taking matters into his own hands just a minute later. Sach nodded down the ball to him just outside of the box, allowing him to cut inside and rifle a fierce strike from 20 yards to regain a two goal advantage, and secure him the match ball for the afternoon.

It would get even better in injury time as Sach secured his birthday goal, beating the offside trap and finishing well past Jinadu to make it two home matches in a row in which Canvey have scored five.

The result was an important one for Canvey, seeing them move up to fourth in the table as Enfield Town lost at Lewes. They'll now prepare for a massive week in their playoff chase, with a long trip to Bognor Regis Town on the cards next Saturday.