Match Report by David Powell

Canvey Island returned to winning ways in the Isthmian Premier with a convincing 3-0 victory over Kingstonian at the Moviestarr Stadium.

The Gulls were good value for their win and, after failing to score in their last two games, looked far more potent in attack.

They could have taken the lead twice within in the opening five minutes of the match. Evans Kouassi first dragged a shot wide of the post from the right, then moments later, found himself clear of the visiting defence but blazed over the crossbar with just the keeper to beat.

It didn't take long for a goal to come however as Canvey took the lead on 8 minutes. Sean Bonnett-Johnson pulled the returning Elliott Ronto down in the box, with the referee pointing straight to the spot. Conor Hubble stepped up and fired home a confident finish to open the scoring.

Canvey really should have got a second on 17 minutes. Good pressure from Bradley Sach forced a defensive error from the visitors that fell kindly to Danny Parish, but he saw his strike hit the side netting instead.

Bradley Sach then hit the post from close range soon after before the striker scored Canvey's second on 27 minutes. Another well weighted ball from the midfield saw Kouassi break into space on the wing, from where he launched a perfectly weighted pass to Sach in the centre for the striker to tap home.

The visitors top scorer Tyrese Owen had a sight of goal on 32 minutes, but Bobby Mason saved his powerful shot well, smothering the ball to stop any threat of a rebound.

The chances kept coming as half time appraoched. Kouassi drilled in a shot that rippled the side netting as it just flew wide.
Then, in the last action of the half, Canvey got their third.

Kouassi jinked his way towards the penalty area and, despite being fouled, the ball broke kindly to Sach, who slammed home from the edge of the penalty area for his second and the Gulls' third.

The second half was a quieter affair as the visitors changed their shape to limit further damage.

Nod Bobomurudov tested Mason with a free kick that the keeper did well to touch over the crossbar, preserving his clean sheet.
Sach meanwhile, nearly completed his hat-trick but missed from close range after good work by Parish to cut the ball back to him.

Kingstonian did have a couple of efforts on goal in the last few minutes, striking the crossbar after a scramble from a corner and then seeing a header fly wide.

One more chance did fall to the Gulls, with good interplay by Parish and Sach seeing the former jinx into the box and fire home, only for the offside flag to rule the goal out.

Canvey held out comfortably for a well deserved three points that takes them back into the top six. They'll hope to be firing on all cylinders again next week, as the league leaders Bishop's Stortford are the visitors to the Moviestarr Stadium.