Heybridge Swifts 2-3 Canvey Island

Canvey Island produced an excellent performance to defeat high-flying Heybridge Swifts 3-2 away at The Aspen Waite Stadium on Saturday.

Manager Mark Bentley made two changes from the side that beat Tilbury 4-1 in the Velocity Trophy on Tuesday night. Michael Finneran missed out through suspension, with Alex Stephenson shuffling across from left back to partner James White in central defence. Sam Dulieu switched from right back to the opposite flank, with Dan Humphreys returning to the side to complete the defence.

The other change was the inclusion of former-Heybridge attacker Sam Bantick who came into the side in place of Kane Gilbert who dropped to the bench.

Bantick wasted no time in making his mark on the match in his first start for the Gulls, opening the scoring after only four minutes. After peeling off of a defender, he found the bottom corner with a superb finish that the Swifts support will have seen many times in their colours.

It was nearly 2-0 five minutes later when Jason Hallett was found in acres of space, beating a defender but sending his shot over from a tight angle.

The lead was doubled on 13 minutes with Bantick the man once again. This time a some excellent build up play from Jason Hallett and Albert Levett ended with Bantick being able to nod home from close range.

Heybridge reduced the arrears on 27 minutes with a goal that involved two ex-Canvey attackers. After a shot from Harrison Chatting hit the post, Jordan Cox was well placed to tap home the rebound to put the Swifts back in within a goal.

Sam Bantick could have grabbed a first half hattrick after Alex Stephenson nodded a cross down for him on 34 minutes, but this time his shot went agonisingly wide the see Canvey into half time with a 2-1 advantage.

The Gulls started the second half as brightly as they had started the first, with Freddy Eastwood and Dan Humphreys both having shots saved inside the opening five minutes of the restart.

Up the other end Heybridge came close to scoring what would have been a fortunate equaliser the ball bounced off of James White, sailed over goalkeeper Lamar Johnson but fortunately went just wide of the target.

This stroke of luck proved even more valuable three minutes later when Jason Hallett restored Canvey’s two goal cushion. The forward ended his recent goal drought with an unstoppable curling effort from 20 yards which left goalkeeper Luca Collins with no chance.

A tense finale was setup with 13 minutes remaining when Alex Teniola bundled the ball home from close range to give Heybridge hope. However, the failed to create the golden chance they needed to earn a share of the spoils, while Canvey defended resolutely to seal an impressive victory.