Match Report by Jonathan Andrews
Photo Credit - Nicky Hayes Photography

Canvey Island finally got their season up and running on Bank Holiday Monday, as they triumphed away at Bowers & Pitsea in a 2-1 victory.

On another warm August afternoon, it was the Gulls who took the initiative in a close fought affair, taking the lead halfway through the first half before before doubling their advantage early in the second. Despite the home side halving the deficit later in the game, it was Canvey who held on to claim their first win of the season and leapfrog their opponents out of the bottom four.

In front of a decent crowd of just over 400 at the Len Salmon Stadium, Brad Wellmen brought Finlay Dorrell into his line in place of an unavailable Kane Gilbert. Tobi Tinubu was also rotated into the defence in place of Matthew Yates.

The opening 20 minutes was a close fought affair, with neither side able to create a chance on target as the two defences held firm.

Canvey worked the ball well with their passing play, and their main threat came from their front duo of Harris and Dorrell, with the former using his strength to hold off his marker before playing the later in, though Dorrell had the hard task of winning a personal battle with the experienced Dexter Peter.

The hosts main threat came on the counter, with the pace of TQ Addy down the Bowers left meaning Tinubu had to be quick on his heels to stop the Bowers winger breaking into the box.

It was the Gulls who made the vital breakthrough on 26 minutes though, and it came from the same source as their two goals against Wingate & Finchley on Saturday.
A foul down the Canvey left saw Tom Stephen step over the free kick and whip a dangerous ball towards the back post, where Harris charged in with intent, and guided the ball past a hesitant Rhys Byrne to grab his first league goal for the club.

Both sides produced a few snap chances before the half, though neither attack could trouble Mason or Byrne again respectively. Still, it was the Gulls with the edge in the game, and they kept their momentum up after the break, leaving their hosts back tracking after good work on the flanks from Adebiyi and Tinubu.

It was the Canvey right back who was influential in the second goal, as the launched a lung busting run down the flank and skimmed a low cross into the box. Dorrell was waiting as he beat his marker for pace, taking a touch to set himself up before slotting the ball past Byrne to grab his first league goal of the season, doubling Canvey's advantage.

The wind was truly in the Gulls sails now, and a few minutes later Dorrell was on hand to turn provider, setting up Conor Hubble, who saw his shot parried away by Byrne.

The hosts were still a threat on the break however, and looked to create opportunities down the flanks as they probed for pockets of space. It got them a way back into the game on 72 minutes as another ball into the box was struck sweetly by Valckx Fernandes to half the deficit.

Suddenly, it was the hosts with the upper hand, and the Gulls back four had to be certain as they kept their opponents at bay, with Parsons and Johnson hooking opportunities away and back up the field to substitute Nick Dembele.

The hosts best chance came from the boot of Fernandes once again in the 84th minute, but this time his curling effort was saved well by Bobby Mason, who got a big hand out at full stretch to turn the shot away.

There was a late penalty call for the Gulls in thr 89th minute, as Dembele broke forward into the box and looked to hold up play for another attacking option, only to pushed down by Yannis Ambroisine. Despite his appeals however, and those of the Yellow Army behind the goal, both the refferee and his linesman on the nearside were unmoved.

After a nervous five minutes of injury time, the Gulls great defensive resolve paid off as the refferee blew for full time, allowing them the chance to celebrate a first away league victory over Bowers & Pitsea since the 2018 playoff semi final.

Canvey's attention now turns to FA Cup duties next weekend, as they play host to Spartan South Midlands side Milton Keynes Irish in the 1st Qualifying Round.