Match Report by David Powell
Photo Credit - Vicki Scott

Canvey Island secured a minimum of a place in the Isthmian Premier League playoffs as they grabbed an emphatic 4-1 win over Kingstonian at Imperial Fields.

A superb hat-trick from Evans Kouassi, along with a goal from Elliott Johnson, gained the Gulls another big three points over their relegation threatened hosts, and with 3 games left to go, Canvey are just two points behind leaders Bishop's Stortford.

They took the lead after just 5 minutes. A short corner on the left was fed to Kouassi, who cut in to the edge of the area and drilled a low shot past Rob Tolfrey to open the scoring.

Canvey were well into their stride and controlling the match by the time Bradley Sach had a penalty shout waved away on 12 minutes. Hubble then saw a shot just clear the crossbar on 18 minutes as the Gulls sought a second.

The hosts looked for a way back into the game and did have the ball in the back of the net on 24 minutes, but Tom Collins was flagged for offside. It wouldn't take long for the Canvey pressure to tell however as they extended their lead on 26 minutes.

A ball in from a corner was only cleared as far as Luca Albon, who hit a first time shot that was deflected into the path of Elliott Johnson. With space on the edge of the penalty area, he placed a low shot that went through a crowd of players and sneaked past Tolfrey following a dummy backheel from Sach to double the scoreline.

Kouassi in particular was causing chaos down the left hand side, and another jinxing run saw him fire another chance just over on 35 minutes.

The hosts began to find their feet as the half drew to a close, with Bobby Mason needing to smother a David Nyarko chance before Lee Lewis hit the side netting in injury time.

Into the second half and Jamie Salmon was on hand to test Tolfrey early on, the home keeper needing to turn the ball over.

The hosts momentum from late in the first half allowed them to find a route back into the game on 64 minutes however, with Tom Collins being allowed to cut in on the Canvey right and slot a low shot past Mason to half the deficit.

The goal woke Canvey up, and they responded well, restoring their two goal cushion just two minutes later. Subsitte Johnny Ashman lifted in a cross from the right that was tipped onto the crossbar by Tolfrey. The ball bounced down into the path of Kouassi, who made not mistake as he slammed the ball into the corner of the net.

This didn't immediately deflate the hosts however, who needed vital points of their own, and they continued pressing for a way back into the game. Mason was forced into a good save from Lee Lewis after a powerful shot, before good Canvey defending forced MacAllister to shoot wide just moments later.

The Gulls were able to do what they've done best this season however, soaking up the pressure before hitting a devastating counter attack to merit them their fourth of the afternoon on 80 minutes.

Another lighting run from deep by Kouassi allowed him to play a clever one-two with Ashman, who held his balance to play in Kouassi, who in turn hammered in a fine strike from the right of the penalty area to complete his hat-trick.

The Gulls could have gotten more as they wound down the game but some good defensive clearances by the hosts to keep them at bay. Full time was soon to signal however as the travelling Yellow Army were jubilant, as they saw the team secure a minimum of playoffs again for another season.

Canvey now go into a crucial Easter Monday game with Aveley, knowing a win would keep their prospects of automatic promotion very much alive.