Match Report by David Powell
Image Credit - Don Goody

Canvey Island concluded their league season with a 3-1 defeat at home to Lewes.

In front of a season's best crowd of 1120, a slightly altered Gulls side were beaten by the playoff chasing Rooks who, despite the result and a superb hat-trick by winger Razz Coleman De-Graft, missed out on the extending their season on goal difference, as Cray Wanderers managed to secure a point at Haringey Borough.

Canvey had already qualified for the playoffs but knew they could have taken second place if they bettered Hornchurch's result at Kingstonian.

Thw first few minutes saw a frantic start, with both sides going for an opener. Rhys Murrell-Williamson curled an effort wide for Lewes, before Bradley Sach set up Evans Kouassi, who was crowned as Supporters Player of the Year before the start of the game, but her fired wide of Lewis Carey's goal.

Lewes pressure began to tell however and they took the lead on 24 minutes thanks to a fine strike by Coleman De Graft. The tricky winger picked the ball up on the edge of the penalty area, dribbling his way inside and firing past Bobby Mason into the corner of the net.

Evans Kouassi tested Lewis Carey with a fierce low shot soon after as Gulls looked for a response, but they could find the equaliser before the break.

Into the second half time and Canvey started more urgency than their opponents, leading to them drawing level on 51 minutes.
Conor Hubble's corner dropped into the six yard box and caused a scramble in the Lewes defence that Rob Girdlestone took advantage of, firing a powerful volley home from close range.

This spurred Lewes into life, and they retook the lead 6 minutes later, Coleman De-Graft finding room down the left and firing in an angled shot past Mason.
He then completed his hat-trick on the hour mark with a curling strike from 25 yards after being given too much space by the Canvey defence.

Canvey, to their credit, rallied and had a couple of chances to reduce the deficit.
Kouassi fired a shot into the side netting and then saw a curling low drive miss the far post by inches after cutting in from the left.

They suddenly saw the game swing to their advantage, when Ayo Olukoga was sent off for a deliberate hand ball just outside the penalty area to guide the ball away from Kouassi as he threatened to find space and get a shot in on goal.
Hubble curled the resulting free kick narrowly over the crossbar.

With a man advantage it was all Canvey now, but despite some fierce pressure, they couldn't put the ball in the net.
Hubble saw Carey brilliantly turn his header around the post and then Odei Martin Sorondo had a shot from close range blocked and deflected over the crossbar.

Lewes held out, defending stoutly to claim all three points and inflict on Gulls their first defeat in the league since February, though the afternoon was ultimately in vein for both sides, Lewes falling short of the playoffs on goal difference, whilst Hornchurch's win prevented any chance of Canvey taking second.

Still, a podium finish in the league ends a superb season for the Gulls, and they'll now face Aveley in the playoffs on Wednesday night at the Moviestarr Stadium.