Canvey Island 2-1 Cambridge City

Canvey Island’s four-match winless home run came to an end on Tuesday night, beating Cambridge City 2-1 at a cold Park Lane in the BetVictor Isthmian League North.

Manager Mark Bentley made one change from the side that were beaten by Soham Town Rangers at the weekend. Sam Bantick returned to the side after suffering with kidney stones, with Tobi Joseph dropping back onto the right wing and Ryan Melaugh being named on the bench.

Canvey nearly opened the scoring inside 30 seconds when Dan Humphreys delivered a cross from the right which was dipping in. However, visiting goalkeeper Daniel George did well to claw the ball out from underneath the crossbar.

Jason Hallett came close on the quarter of an hour mark when he got his head to a deep free kick from Matt Lock on the right. Hallett met the ball at the back post but nodded wide of the target from close range.

The forward didn’t miss three minutes later however when he gave Canvey the lead. A great run from Ernest Okoh through the middle of the pitch finished with him sliding the ball through for Hallett bursting into the box to the right of goal. He took a touch before firing across goal and into the bottom corner to break the deadlock.

Hallett nearly scored again on 20 minutes when Dan Humphreys played the ball into his feet on the edge of the box with his back to goal. This time the striker rolled his right shoulder to turn his marker, curling a left-footed shot towards goal which looked to be going in. However, Daniel George produced a superb save, diving high to his right to tip the ball wide for a corner.

The visitors were reduced to ten men three minutes later when left back Taylor Horne tripped Sam Bantick as the forward was about to run through on goal. Referee Peter Cruise was well positioned and showed Horne a straight red card for denying the obvious goalscoring opportunity.

Things went from bad to worse for Cambridge on 25 minutes when they fell further behind. A ball over the top found the run from deep of Albert Levett who found himself clean through on goal. Levett shot straight at George who saved, but the ball ricocheted straight into defender Seb Simpson who was chasing back and went in.

The Lilywhites got themselves back into the contest on 34 minutes when they received a slice of luck of their own. A calamitous mix up between centre back Darren Phillips and goalkeeper Emmanuel Idem saw the ball fall loose inside the box, giving striker Arel Amu the easiest goal he will score all season into an empty net.

Canvey had chances to restore their two-goal cushion before the interval. On 37 minutes a good ball from central defence from James White saw him spray a pass out to the left which found the feet of Ernest Okoh. The winger got his head down and drove into the area, beating a defender but seeing his low shot saved by the keeper.

Then, on 43 minutes, Okoh saw a shot blocked by a defender which found its way to Matt Lock to collect 30 yards from goal on the right. Lock unleashed a superb shot which looked to be heading in, missing the top corner by a matter of inches.

Cambridge started the second half in positive fashion, earning several set pieces allowing them to put the ball into the Canvey box, although without any success.

Up the other end, Jason Hallett had two glorious chances to add to his tally. On 55 minutes a determined run from Ernest Okoh in from the left saw him drive to the touchline before cutting the ball to the near post. Hallett met the pass and shot first time, although his shot from point blank range was straight at the keeper who saved.

He had an even better opportunity nine minutes later when he was on the end of low cross into the box from the right by Tobi Joseph. Kane Gilbert looked to be fouled inside the box as the ball came across, but the referee was right to allow play to continue as Hallett was unmarked and received possession. However, his shot across goal clipped the outside of the post with only the keeper to beat.

Canvey created two more good chances, both of which involving wingers Ernest Okoh and Tobi Joseph.

On 75 minutes Okoh’s ball from the left was worked across the area and found Joseph after a clever step over from Jason Hallett. Joseph shot first time, although his low effort was comfortable for the keeper.

Two minutes later Joseph played the ball through for Okoh following a swift counter attack, although his shot from the edge of the box was disappointing and went high and wide with only the keeper to beat.

With Canvey spurning several good opportunities and failing to put the game to bed, it always felt as though the Lilywhites would get one chance to snatch a share of the spoils. This chance came in the 84th minute when a cross from the right was headed down by Michael Finneran ahead of striker Arel Amu.

The ball fell lose to debutant Ryan Ingrey who recently signed from Royston Town, but he smashed his right-footed shot a yard wide of the post.

The Gulls saw out the remainder of the match, including four additional minutes, to record a long overdue home victory and elevate themselves to sixth in the table.

The win was not without cost however, with forward Sam Bantick and defender Darren Phillips leaving the match through injury.