Match Report by David Powell

Canvey Island took an enormous step towards securing a playoff place with an impressive 2-0 victory over Lewes at The Dripping Pan.

Two second half goals from Evans Kouassi gave the Gulls a win that ultimately could prove crucial in cementing a place in the top five for a second season running.

They were made to work for their win though, with an impressive Lewes side playing some neat passing football as they too looked to stake a claim for the coveted playoff places.

The hosts looked to make their mark on the game quickly as they came flying out of the traps, moving the ball confidently and looking a real threat down the wings.

Ryan Gondoh made their first chance of the evening as he powered down the right and fired into the side netting early on. Then it was the turn of the impressive Razz Coleman-Graft, as he found space for a shot following a set piece, but Sam Mvemba was there to block his strike.

Lewes looked a threat as they came forward, more good play between Hyde and De-Graft seeing the later flash a shot not far wide of the top corner.

Canvey settled after the frantic start, with Kouassi finding more space as he had his first chance of the evening, hitting a half-shot straight at Lewis Carey following good pressure play from Sorondo and Hubble.

Bobby Mason was forced into a good save at his near post as De-Graft hit a forceful strike that the keeper did well to hold. The chances going begging allowed Canvey to turn the rhythm of the game as half time approached.

It was Kouassi again with two big chances just before the intermission, following on from throw-ins, as he just dragged both efforts wide of the target.

The second half saw Lewes come out measured in their play again, but despite their tidy passing, they couldn't find a way to break down a well drilled Canvey defence.

That allowed the Gulls to create the better chances when they broke forward. First, Edwards had a header towards goal cleared following on from a corner, before a mazy run from Joe Paxman ended in him firing a shot straight at Lewis Carey.

Kouassi then dragged a shot narrowly off target after a good looping pass from Bradley Sach before Canvey eventually found the opener they'd sought.

On 73 minutes, Jamie Salmon broke another attack down and poked the ball into the path of Kouassi. He played the ball past Tom Champion on the halfway line and used his lightning pace to surge forward with Gondoh in pursuit. Holding off his man, he stared down the keeper and fired a composed shot in off the far post to make it 1-0.

The goal stunned Lewes and, despite the best efforts of their forwards, they couldn't find a way to penetrate a resilient Canvey defence, in which Rob Girdlestone and Elliot Ronto were rock solid.

That resilience allowed the Gulls to seal the game with 4 minutes to go.
Salmon did superbly to charge down an attempted Lewes pass in midfield, with the ball breaking to Kouassi, who raced through and kept his cool to fire past Carey again and double Canvey’s lead, much to the delight of the travelling supporters behind the goal.

Lewes pressed for a way back into the game as injury time began, Taylor firing over shot before Mason tipped away a free kick by Gondoh with the one of the last kicks of the game.

It was Canvey though, who picked up a massive three points with their game in hand to move them 8 points clear of 6th place.

They'll face a huge final six matches now to keep that place, with another of the chasers Hastings United coming to the Moviestarr Stadium on Saturday.