Canvey Island 0-2 Great Wakering Rovers

Canvey Island slipped to a 2-0 defeat to Great Wakering at Park Lane on Saturday, all but ending any hopes of a BetVictor Isthmian League North playoff place in the process.

Manager Mark Bentley made three changes from the side that drew 2-2 with AFC Sudbury in their last outing a fortnight earlier. Darren Phillips missed out through injury, while Tobi Joseph and Ernest Okoh dropped to the bench.

In came Southend United youngsters Freddy Eastwood and Sam Brogan along with new signing Renei Batlokwa in attack.

The Rovers squad included three former-Canvey players, with Jake Gordon and Martin Tuohy in the starting XI and Alex Stephenson on the bench.

The first action of the match came in the ninth minute when a cross from the right by Martin Tuohy found the run of Billy Johnson. The winger steered a shot goalwards from a central position, forcing Rob Budd into an impressive save to keep the ball out.

Canvey then created a similar chance two minutes later when Sam Bantick cut the ball back from the right to the edge of the area for Freddy Eastwood. He shot first time, although Bobby Mason pulled off an equally good save. Renei Batlokwa attempted to capitalise on the loose ball, but the flag went up to indicate that the new signing was offside.

Batlokwa and Eastwood were involved again on the 15 minute mark when the former played the ball to Eastwood on the edge of the box from the right. He flicked the ball back over for Batlokwa, but he was unable to make contact with the goal at his mercy.

Rob Budd produced another good save on 19 minutes, diving to his right to prevent Jake Gordon’s shot from beating him at his near post.

There was a controversial moment three minutes later when referee Paul Stratton awarded a free kick against Canvey keeper Rob Budd for handball outside the area. A red card could have followed, but after checking with his assistant the decision was reversed and a drop ball awarded to Canvey instead.

Canvey’s best chance of the first half came after 30 minutes when Sam Brogan sent an excellent cross into the box from the right. Jason Hallett leapt high and directed a great header towards the top corner. However, Bobby Mason prevented Hallett from opening the scoring with a superb save diving high to his left.

The visitors took the lead ten minutes later when a cross from the right was headed back across goal and onto the crossbar by Billy Johnson. The Canvey defence didn’t react which allowed Martin Tuohy time to take a touch and shoot, but he was denied by a tremendous stop from Rob Budd.

However, the ball fell to Johnson once again, and this time there was nothing Budd could do to prevent the ball from hitting the back of the net.

Wakering doubled their advantage three minutes later when a counter attack saw Jake Gordon get the better of George Woodward and head towards goal. Having drawn two defenders towards him, Gordon played the ball to his right for Martin Tuohy who slotted underneath Rob Budd to score.

The second half was a quieter affair, with Canvey pushing forwards in search of a goal but Wakering restricting them to only half chances.

The closest they came was on 68 minutes when Jason Hallett’s shot across goal from the left caught a deflection and sailed narrowly wide of the far post for a corner.

Wakering had an appeal for a penalty soon afterwards when Martin Tuohy’s shot struck the elbow of Michael Finneran. However, Finneran’s arm was in tight to his body and the referee rightly allowed play to continue.

Substitute Tobi Joseph finally hit the target for Canvey on 80 minutes, although his low shot from 20 yards was straight at Bobby Mason who saved comfortably.

Jake Gordon had two late chances to scored against his former side. On 81 minutes he saw his shot from the right tipped over the bar by Rob Budd, and then 5 minutes later his shot into the bottom corner was ruled out due to the flag being raised for offside.

In the last two home matches Canvey had found late goals to snatch a point, but on this occasion the goals did not come and the visitors left with the three points.

Photo: KJA Sports Images