Match Report by David Powell
Photo Credit - Dan Goody

Canvey Island suffered another late league defeat on Saturday afternoon, as they fell on the wrong side of a five goal back and forth to Dulwich Hamlet, losing 3-2 at the Steves Taxis Stadium.

In front of a healthy crowd of 457, the Gulls came from behind twice to level the game, but a late dismissal for captain Jamie Salmon meant the Gulls were up against it for the last 10 minutes, and they were undone by a controversial winner, whilst being made to rue their own missed chances to possibly win the match.

The Gulls were depleted from their cup exploits the week before, with Tom Stephen, Conor Hubble and Elliott Johnson all unavailable, and Emmanuel Adebiyi joining the injury list. Jimmy Wallace and Harvey Livings-Corbin came in for their first start of the season - the former having recently returned from injury - and on loan from Swindon Town came in midfielder Jaxon Brown, who made his debut from the start. It also meant the Gulls starting line up was a young one, with much it only 23 and under, up against a side of seasoned Step 3 stalwarts.

The Gulls were put to the test from the start, with the visitors probing for an early breakthrough. The pace of Lorenzo Lewis and Luke Wanadio caused problems for Tinubu and Livings-Corbin on the flanks, and it was the later who struck the first big chance of the game on 18 minutes, as he cut into the area and curled a wicked strike that Bobby Mason needed to palm away well to keep the scores level. From the resulting corner, Danny Mills placed a header just wide.

At the other end, Canvey looked to break through Chris Harris and Finlay Dorrell, though they found it hard to get past the Max Hudson and the towering Michael Chambers.

Despite keeping in the game though, the Gulls were the architects of their own downfall on 24 minutes, as they gifted the visitors the opener after an error at the back. A routine pass played out by Mason saw Wallace caught cold by the visitors high press, and the lurking Wanadio made no mistake as he picked his pocket and fired home to give his side the lead.

The Gulls began to come to life as the half ebbed on, and they started to create chances as the break approached.
They reaped the rewards for their attacking play on the 45 minute mark as they drew level. A free kick played in from Livings-Corbin found Wallace in the area, who got a strong header at goal that crashed against the crossbar. Before the visitors could clear however, Jamie Salmon was on hand to push through and poach the equaliser from close range.

With a few stoppages for injury however, 6 more minutes were played, and much like against Wingate & Finchley a fortnight ago, they conceded late on. Dulwich won a corner in the last minute of the half and played a low ball in that took an unfortunate deflection off Livings-Corbin to see him turn into his own net at the near post.

Into the second half and the Gulls didn't let conceding late deflate them, starting the half much improved and taking the issue to the visitors.

A nasty injury to Lorenzo Lewis saw him stretchered off on 51 minutes, but the break in play allowed the Gulls to catch their hosts cold, and they found a way through with a superb equaliser.

Debutant Jaxon Brown began to show real pace and purpose breaking into the channels, and on 61 minutes he picked up a ball from Tinubu and raced past Michael Chambers into the area. There, he played a quick one-two with Dorrell and dinked a finish over Dillon Barnes to put the game at a desmond.

Suddenly, it was all Canvey, and they saw a succession of great chances go begging. First, Salmon was just off target with a 25 yard effort recycled after a corner was cleared away on 77 minutes. Their biggest chance though, came in the 81st minute, as good work again from Brown saw him play Tinubu into space on the left. He played the perfect pass into substitute Nick Dembele, but with the goal at his mercy, the striker blazed over from inside the area, much to the frustration of most in the ground - himself included!

Disaster struck for the Gulls on 85 minutes though, as they were reduced to 10 men. The pace on the break from Dulwich was still proving a threat, and as they cut down their left flank again, Salmon was forced into a challenge that drew a free kick on the edge of the area. Already on a yellow card, the referee showed no hesitation in sending him off, leaving the Gulls suddenly up against it when they'd been in the ascendancy.

The script flip proved crucial as just 4 minutes later, the visitors won the game. A corner from the left was met by substitute George Porter, who finished at the near post. Both Canvey's players and management were furious however, insisting that Porter had used his hand when scoring. The linesman had also flagged for an affront of some kind, but the referee waved away the appeals and his fellow official to see the goal stand.

With lots of injury time to play however, the Gulls never lay down, and they went searching for an equaliser. Another break involving the pace of Brown saw the midfielder find space in the box, but he could only slice his shot wide of target. Another corner routine shortly after saw Parsons try his luck with a shot, only to see his curled effort just clear the crossbar.

The visitors held out however, condemning the Gulls to another defeat, leaving them 2nd from bottom in the table.
They return to cup duties next weekend, as they host Isthmian North side Felixstowe & Walton United in the Emirates FA Cup 2nd Qualifying Round.