Match Report by David Powell

Canvey Island lost their final game of 2024 at the Steves Taxis Stadium on Saturday, going down to a 1-0 defeat against high flying Dartford.

In front of a healthy holiday crowd of over 600, a rotated Gulls side found it hard to break down an organised opposition defending an 11 game unbeaten run, seeing them eventually take their chance when it came after a defensive lapse.

The first time either keeper was tested was on 32 minutes, when Bobby Mason made a smart save to keep out an effort from Leyton Orient loanee Hayden Bullas.

The visitors took the lead on the stroke of half time when Eddie Dsane found room in the penalty area following a goal mouth scramble, to send a smart finish past Mason.

Canvey improved in the second half without really testing Jacob Marsden in the Darts' goal.

They had much more possession but were never really able to get a sight on goal, with Dartford’s centre backs doing well to clear a number of high balls into the penalty area and making some crucial blocks.

Duane Afori-Acheampong could have doubled Dartford's lead on 68 minutes when his low driven shot was kept out by Mason with the Canvey defence scrambling the ball clear from near the goal-line.

Afori-Acheampong was the hero at the other end heading a Sonny Hart header off of the line on 74 minutes with Marsden beaten as Canvey searched for an equaliser.

Elliot Ronto drove a tantalising cross across the six yard box that just eluded a number of yellow shirts but the visitors were efficient in defence and held out for a hard fought three points and complete a league double over the Gulls.

The full time whistle signalled a third successive defeat without a goal for Canvey, who've faced a challenging Christmas playing 3 of the top 6. It forces them down into 14th in a tight table, and with sides around them winning, it leaves them with a huge task to keep momentum in a busy January, as they face 3 of the bottom 6 over 2 weeks - Bowers & Pitsea the first of those on New Year's Day.