Match Report by David Powell
Photo Credit - Dan Goody

Man Of The Match - Bradley Sach

Canvey Island boosted their league position on Saturday afternoon with a 2-1 win against Whitehawk at the Steves Taxis Stadium.

In front of a crowd of just over 300, a scrappy game between two sides perhaps not quite at their best was settled in the 90th minute, with Canvey overturning an early goal to secure a win that puts them 10th in the standings, but just 4 points from the playoff pack.

In an even first half, it was the struggling visitors who took the lead in the 14th minute.
Kai Jennings - who was proving a thorn in the Gulls side on the flanks - managed to find space in the box after receiving a ball from out wide, and slotted a low strike into the corner of the net, with Bobby Mason rooted to his line.

Jennings would strike the crossbar in the 22nd minute as the visitors threatened a second, with the Gulls struggling to find their usual rhythm. They saw several balls into the box dealt with by the away defence, despite a scramble or two from a corner.

In Jaxon Brown though, they still posed a threat on the counter, with the wingers lightning pace instrumental in Canvey's equaliser.
Bursting towards the box, he was chopped down as he got into the area, with the referee showing no hesitation as he pointed to the spot. Brown assumed responsibility and despite a good save from Will Huffer to turn it onto the crossbar, the ball fell kindly for the rebound to be tapped in to level the game.

The rest of the half passed without many more chances for either side as they got caught up in a battle of attrition in midfield.
The only chance fell to the visitors, with Jerry O'Sullivan forcing Mason to turn his shot from 20 yards out over the crossbar on 33 minutes. The game was still finely in the balance though as half time sounded.

Into the second half, and whilst the Gulls managed to win out much of the possession, it was the visitors who making the most of theirs.

The Gulls did create the first chance of the half through Elliott Ronto however, with the midfielder shooting over from the edge of the area.
Mason had to be alert in the Canvey goal however. Chances began to fall for the visitors, with Jennings dragging an effort wide in the 54th minute, before Mason had to parry away another effort in the 71st minute.

Canvey introduced Chris Harris into the game to partner Bradley Sach up front, but despite the double threat, they failed to create much as the visitors defence dealt with much of what was thrown at it.

A handball shout in the box was waved away in the 62nd minute, before Sach turned provider for Brown in the 82nd minute, with the winger lifting his header in front of goal over the crossbar.

Moe Shubbar saw another effort curl wide of goal for the visitors as the 90th minute approached, before a big chance fell for the Gulls. A corner whipped in caused havoc in the box, but neither Sach nor Harris were able to turn the ball home, with Huffer managing to eventually smother the ball.

It looked like the game was heading for a draw as the fourth officials board broadcast four more minutes. The Gulls took their final chance though when it came, to win the game.
Brown managed to trick his way into space down the wing once again, with a perfectly weighted ball finding Sach in the box. The striker beat his marker to fire a header at goal, with the ball going in off the post to seal the three points for the Gulls.

The win puts Canvey in a healthy position in the table, and just four points from the playoff places in an unpredictable division. They now have a week to prepare for one of the seasons toughest tests - a trip to Dover Athletic next weekend.