Match Report by David Powell

Canvey Island suffered their third successive defeat on Saturday afternoon, as they were defeated 2-0 away at Dartford in the Isthmian League Premier.

On an afternoon where many Canvey fans struggled to get to the game due to traffic issues on the M25, a spirited first half performance was undone by more defensive errors, and it left the Gulls pointless at this early stage of the campaign.

In front of a sizeable crowd of 819 at Princes Park, Brad Wellman made 3 changes from Tuesday nights home defeat to Hashtag United, with Ewan Sanchez, Finlay Dorrell and Emmanuel Adebiyi starting in place of Conor Hubble, Jamie Salmon and Chris Harris, the later of whom was unavailable. New signing Michael Freiter was named amongst the substitutes.

The first half saw a spirited Gulls performance that matched their recently relegated hosts for intensity, and it was Canvey who created the best chances of the half.

After a powerful header was saved by Darts keeper Matt Kerbey, needing Mert Apat to scramble the ball away, it was then Ewan Sanchez's turn to test the keeper with a free kick from the edge of the penalty area, after Tobi Tinubu had been brought down.

Despite the chances however, the score remained goalless at the break, and a good start to the half was undone by the Gulls recent worrying habits creeping back in, gifting the hosts the game.

Jeremiah Pinder first fired a warning shot that required Bobby Mason to save well at his near post.
Not long after at the other end, Nick Dembele saw a dangerous cross fizz across the Dartford box, with nobody on hand to apply the finishing rluch. Elliott Ronto then perhaps had the Gulls final real chance of the game when he couldn't direct a header in front of goal on target after a cross from the right.

The hosts turned up the heat though, and on 62 minutes, Dartford opened the scoring with a well taken strike.
From a corner, the ball was flicked into the path of Sam Oduadu, who was given the space to volley home past Mason and open the scoring.

Dartford sealed the game 8 minutes from time, when substitute Tyler Christian-Law took advantage of a misplaced pass at the back to go through on goal and fire past Mason go complete the scoring and condemn the Gulls to another defeat.

The result leaves the Gulls winless and pointless after three games. They'll need to hope their fortunes improve during a bumper Bank Holiday weekend, with Wingate & Finchley first up at the Steves Taxis Stadium on Saturday.