Match Report by David Powell

An injury time strike from Conor Hubble gave Canvey Island a superb win on the road against Isthmian Premier high flyers Potters Bar Town on Tuesday evening.

In a hotly contested game on a cold October night, the Gulls had to ride their luck at times, especially in the second half, but showed first class determination throughout and warranted their three points after a spirited display in which they played some attractive football.

The Scholars featured former Canvey loanee and Playoff winner Miles Mitchell-Nelson, who made his debut in for the home side in defence. They came flying out of the blocks, but the Canvey defence held their nerve and allowed the game to settle in into a competitive rhythm.

They looked to craft attacks of their own and, on 6 minutes, a direct run down the left from Tobi Tinubu saw his cross fall to Evans Kouassi. His low shot was parried by home keeper Ted Collins, with the loose ball falling to Martin Tuohy. He couldn't keep his shot down however, seeing it clip the top of the the crossbar.

The Gulls smelt blood though and kept on pressing, finding their breakthrough on 14 minutes. Kouassi picked up the ball on the right after another good pass from the midfield. Holding off his marker, he weaved past several defenders into the centre to strike a low shot with power, flat footing the keeper to give Canvey the lead.

From their, they continued to dominate in terms of clear chances. Tinubu saw a low cross catch a deflection and strike the base of the post before Tuohy forced Collins into a save after getting on the end of Kouassi cross.

Potters Bar weren't out of the competition yet of course, with Lewis Manor’s height and Quentin Monville’s pace causing Canvey headaches. The Gulls defence were up for the task however, winning challenge after challenge as the game crept towards half time.

They'd be disappointed then, to concede as they did just before the break. A corner from the left was played close to the goal, allowing Mitchell-Nelson to beat his marker and head home for his new employers against his former side. All square at the break.

The second half saw the Scholars come out stronger as they began to show the finesse that has seen them hover around the summit of the table.

Canvey were forced into a half time change, with Danny Parish replacing an injured Kouassi. They did create one of the halfs first chances on 56 minutes, when Conor Hubble came close with a free kick. It took a wicked deflection and bounced just wide with the keeper beaten.

From there however, it began to feel like one way traffic, with Potters Bar playing some neat attacking football to put Canvey under the cosh. Bobby Mason was forced into an outstanding save, pushing aside a point blank range header on 74 minutes. Moments later Potters Bar hit the post from after a scramble in the area, eventually seeing the ball cleared.

Again and again the claret wave pushed forward, but they saw any chances either well resisted by the Canvey defence or drift high and wide, with huge performances across the backline leaving the hosts cursing their luck.

As the game came into it's closing stages however, the Gulls once again pushed forward. Reiss Chandler's cross saw Ted Collins scramble away a punch on 88 minutes, but no Canvey strikers could apply the touch needed to take it towards goal.

A winner would come on 90 minutes however, against the run of play of most of the half.

Conor Hubble picked the ball up just outside the area and, with the play opening up in front of him, he fired in a low shot that took a bounce. It deceived Collins, who got fingers to the ball but couldn’t keep it out, sparking wild celebrations amongst the travelling Canvey supporter behind the goal, many of whom would have been content with a draw not moments earlier.

It left little time for the hosts to respond, the final whistle blowing a few minutes later to confirm another impressive victory for the Gulls, their third in a row, taking their unbeaten league run up to 7 matches.

They'll hope the rub of the green is still with them as they continue their journeys at the weekend, a trip to mid-table Margate the mission.