Canvey Island recorded their first league win of the season with a hard fought 3-2 victory over league leaders Brentwood Town at the Steve's Taxis Stadium.

Gulls had to ride their luck a little especially in the second half when Brentwood dominated for long spells winning a string of corners but Canvey to their credit battled hard and took their chances when they came.

Canvey made a fast start taking the lead within the first few minutes of the game. A free kick fell into the path of Kenedi Dariri who poked home past Melvin Minter.

Even better was to follow on 12 minutes when Max Fiddes picked up the ball on the right hand side of the park and cut in to fire a low shot from 20 yards that flew past Minter and into the corner of the net to double Canvey’s lead.

Brentwood found a lifeline on 22 minutes when Alejandro Machado thundered a superb free kick from 25 yards past George Barrett.

Canvey responded well with Fiddes guiding a header wide from Elliott Ronto's right wing cross on 40 minutes.

In the second half, Brentwood dominated much of the half. A header from a good position flew wide of the target before Brentwood scored an equaliser on 71 minutes.

The prolific Daniel Ogunleye found space in the penalty area from Machado's pass and drilled a low shot across Barrett and into the net.

It looked like Brentwood would go on to win the game as they continued to put pressure on the Canvey goal.

It was Gulls though who regained the lead on 84 minutes. Substitute Finley Dorrell chased after a long hopeful ball forward but showed great tenacity to get there before Matt Cripps and Minter to fire the ball into the empty net.

The last ten minutes was a real battle for Canvey as Brentwood pushed them back in search of an equaliser.

Barrett made a tremendous one handed save to keep a close range effort out before another shot skimmed the top of the crossbar after a corner was partially cleared.

Some brave defending saw an effort from Fletcher Hubbard blocked in the six yard box and Gulls were able to hold out for 4 minutes of stoppage time to seal a win that gives them a much needed boost before Saturday’s away match at Cray Valley.

Match Report by David Powell