Match Report by David Powell
Photo Credit - Craig Brett

Canvey Island went down to a damaging 3-0 Boxing Day defeat to local rivals Billericay Town.

In front of a crowd just short of 1300, the Gulls were second best on a poor afternoon by their recent standards, although a missed penalty from Bradley Sach at the start of the second half proved to be crucial.

Canvey did make a bright start to the game and Sach sliced an effort off target within the first 5 minutes, after a loose ball dropped to him.

The hosts had pace-a-plenty on the flanks though and were proving a real problem. Ashley Nzala created a great chance for De-Carrey Sheriff soon after but the striker poked his effort wide before hosts took the lead on 12 minutes.
Ade Azeez went through on goal and although he was denied by Bobby Mason former Canvey player Tyrell Miller Rodney was on hand to fire the loose ball home.

The lead was extended on 19 minutes when Tommy Davis diverted a cross passed Mason after being gifted space in the box.

Sheriff nearly added a third on 41 minutes as he headed off target in a first half in which Canvey were very much rudderless, adrift at sea.

Into the second half, and Canvey made a double change, with Tinubu and Hubble introduced to try and remedy the damage. They nearly found a way back into the game when they won a penalty, after Chris Harris was dragged back by Matt Johnson in the penalty area.

Sach took responsibility, but Sam Donkin dived to his right to keep his spot kick out with, with Canvey now missing a penalty in their last two matches.

The miss proved to be crucial as Canvey dropped went down after a positive start to the half, allowing the hosts to dicate much of the rest of the game as they saw fit.

With 7 minutes remaining, they added salt to the wounds, when substitute Arjanit Krasniqi curled a free kick from the edge of the penalty area past Mason to make it 3-0.

Canvey substitute Finley Dorrell had an opportunity to reduce the arrears just before the end but fired across goal and wide after latching on to a flicked header.

By that point though, many of the Canvey fans who travelled had seen enough. The full time whistle put them out of their misery, with Canvey's attention now turning to two vital home games in the space of the next few days - Dartford the first visitors on Saturday.