Canvey Island's relegation fears deepened after a 3-1 home defeat against fellow strugglers Welling United at the Steve's Taxis Stadium.

Despite having spells of pressure, Gulls were undone by a Welling side who were more clinical in front of goal and took their opportunities when they came.

Canvey had the first shooting chance of the game on 10 minutes when Matas Skarna saw a dipping shot from 25 yards just clear the crossbar.

Elliott Ronto then tested Mackenzie Foley with a low shot that the keeper held at the second attempt.

Skarna then on 34 minutes sent a half volley wide.

Welling though took the lead in first half injury time with a fine strike. A right wing corner was cleared as far as the edge of the penalty area to Troy Howard who showed great technique to hit a low first time volley into the bottom corner of the net beyond Jacob Marsden.

Into the second half, Gulls were struggling to make any headway in testing the Welling defence until the 59th minute when Ben Steward picked the ball up on the right and showed great skill to go past a defender and lob an excellent effort over Foley from the right hand side of the penalty area.

The goal galvanised Canvey and for the next 15 minutes they looked the team more likely to take the lead.

On 67 minutes, Skarna forced Foley into a good save with a low shot across goal with new signing Duane Ofori-Acheampong making his first appearance off of the bench unable to turn the loose ball home.

Despite a good period of pressure it was Welling who retook the lead on 78 minutes.

After Dean Gunner made a brave block to deny Ronto's goal bound shot, Wings broke up the other end and Jamie Reynolds saw his 20 yard shot take a deflection and fly past Marsden and into the net.

Welling added a third on 85 minutes when John Ufuah found space down the left and fired a low shot from a tight angle past Marsden.

The result now leaves Gulls bottom of the league and nine points adrift of safety.

Match Report by David Powell