Match Report by David Powell
Photo Credit - Vicki Scott

Man of the Match - Ewan Sanchez

Canvey Island produced their best performance of the season so far on Saturday afternoon, defying the odds to beat Chatham Town 3-1 in the Isthmian League Premier.

In front of a big crowd of just over 1000 at the Bauvil Stadium, the Gulls put in a phenomenal shift, stunning their hosts with two early goals before soaking up the pressure and making one of their chances count in the 2nd half to take three huge points back to Essex.

Brad Wellmen rotated several members of his side to suit his set up on the day, with Tom Stephen, Kane Gilbert and Tobi Tinubu all returning to the start line up, with Chris Harris available to lead the line.

Backed by a boisterous contingent of the Yellow Army, they made the perfect start to the game, finding the net twice in the opening 10 minutes. After an adventurous start, the pace and tricky of Tinubu won the Gulls a free kick on their right flank. Stephen assumed responsibility, and much like his effort against Wingate a few weeks earlier, his delivery into the box deceived home keeper Joe Wright to creep in at the near post, putting Canvey ahead.

It was 2-0 just 3 minutes later. The Gulls looked to keep winning back possession, allowing Tinubu again the opportunity to come forward, and his well weighted pass into the box fed in Jaxon Brown, who finished confidently past Wright to double the lead.

The hosts were shell-shocked, though began to find their rhythm as the half ebbed on. Their main threat came down the flanks through Kofi Anokye-Boadi, who looked to manufacture chances for Freddie Sears and Sam Sene-Richardson, but time and again they were met by resolute defending from the Canvey backline.

A compact Gulls formation allowed Ollie Parsons and Jimmy Wallace to help clear chances away from Bobby Mason's area, with Ronto and Sanchez battling well to break down attacks through the centre, and Yates and Stephen ferrying the ball forward to the Canvey attack, where Chris Harris looked to play through his pacier options.

The hosts rarely threatened Mason's goal, with a few efforts going high or wide. Half time came however, and they came out with a renewed sense of determination to claw the game back, meaning the Gulls had to be at their best against several ex EFL and Premier League players.

The hosts best chance of the half came in the 54th minute, when Stuart O'Keefe rose highest to a header in the box, only for Bobby Mason to parry it over the crossbar from point blank range.

The Gulls weren't going to rest on their laurels however, and they kept driving forward on the counter after soaking up the pressure. The determination looked to have paid off on 56 minutes, when they were awarded a penalty. Good work from Harris in the Chatham box managed to feed in Sanchez, who was cut down as he weaved inside, leaving referee Daniel D'Urso no choice but to award the spot kick.

Kane Gilbert took responsibility, but he somehow blazed a powerful strike over Wright's crossbar, with those in the stands fearing the Gulls had wasted their chance.

The Gulls held their nerve though as a fiesty second half continued. Referee D'Urso was certainly kept busy, producing no less than 11 yellow cards across the board, meaning a sending off seemed inevitable.

It came in the 80th minute, with Chatham players beginning to lose their heads after an early penalty shout was denied after a dive the box, and substitute Reece Butler followed through on a heavy challenge on Harvey Livings-Corbin, with the referee producing a second yellow to give him his marching orders.

The Gulls saw their opportunity and continued to push forward when the chance came their way. Matt Yates tested Wright with a stinging shot after a break down the right, before Harris missed a golden opportunity in the 82nd minute, as a he steered a snap header wide of the mark from inside the box.

The Gulls wouldn't be denied their 3rd though, and they won the game in the 89th minute. Substitute Conor Hubble picked up the ball on the right of the box and danced his way inside before launching a shot at goal. Wright could only parry it into the path of Ewan Sanchez, with the midfielder firing home yards out to spark wild scenes with the away end.

The hosts did find their consolation deep into injury time, with the Gulls defence finally running out of steam to stop Sene-Richardson from firing home inside the area.

It mattered little however, with the refferee blowing for full time shortly after to seal a huge three points for the Gulls on the road and make it two wins from two.

Their attention now returns to Emirates FA Cup duties next Sunday, and a chance to make the 4th Qualifying Round as they travel to Southern League Central side Biggleswade FC.