Match Report by David Powell

Man of the Match - Chris Harris

Canvey Island got their first win in eight games on Saturday afternoon, as they defeated Chatham Town 1-0 at the Steves Taxis Stadium.

In front of a good crowd of 414, the Gulls were good value for their win, putting in a battling performance on a heavy surface to pick up a big three points to ease their relegation worries, and complete a league double over their opponents in the process.

Brad Wellmen named an unchanged side from Tuesday's defeat against Cheshunt, and the team rewarded his faith from the off as they came flying out of the traps. Darren Foxley proved a handful for the visitors out wide, and he got Canvey's first chance early in the match as he fired into the side netting.

The visitors were finding it hard to find their rhythm on a pitch that was still recovering from being lashed by rain in the week, but still posed a threat on the break, with the pace of John Ufuah and Yamie Yila needing the Canvey defence to be at their best to keep them out. They tested Bobby Mason with a drilled shot at near post on 10 minutes.

It was Canvey who were asking the most questions though as they came forward, and they took a deserved lead on 19 minutes. After winning a free kick on the left wing, Conor Hubble floated an inch perfect ball towards the near post, finding Elliott Ronto waiting to hit a powerful header past Joe Wright to give the Gulls the lead for the first time in a league game since mid-December.

The visitors looked to force an equaliser just before half time, but they found the Canvey defence well dug in and ready for a battle as they began to land big challenges and clearances to keep the visitors at bay. Yila got another chance at the near post and dragged his shot wide, but his was a limited chance for his side at Bobby Mason's goal.

Into the second half and it was the Gulls who came out the most hungry for another goal. Within four minutes, a good move into the box saw first Foxley and then Jamie Salmon denied in quick succession by Wright. Hubble saw the next big chance fall to him on 65 minutes, finding space in the box but dragging his shot over the crossbar.

The visitors looked to reply but saw themselves frustrated by the Gulls siege mentality, with moves down the flanks constantly snuffed out by Tobi Tinubu and Tom Stephen.

Good work winning the ball back up front by Foxley and Chris Harris was allowing chances for Bradley Sach to grab his first Canvey goal since mid-December. First, he drilled a well hit shot from the edge of the area on 67 minutes that curled just wide of Wright's far post. Not long after, another ball into the area from Foxley saw Sach get a header in that was put just wide of the other post.

With the game still at just 1-0 however, everything hung in the balance as the visitors looked for that one golden chance to turn the tide of the game. It looked like they'd found it on 87 minutes as a striker got on the end of a header, but Mason was equal to it as he turned the ball away.

Five minutes of injury time were well played out by the Gulls, who battled to keep the ball, earning cheers from the crowd for every good tackle made. Full time brought jubilation and relief as they earned their first league win of the year, and put four points between themselves and the drop zone.
A busy month continues on Tuesday however, and they'll need to back up their good performance at home again in a local derby against fellow strugglers Bowers & Pitsea.