Felixstowe & Walton United 3-3 Canvey Island

A 96th minute goal from substitute Sam Bantick earned Canvey Island a dramatic point away to Felixstowe & Walton United in the BetVictor Isthmian League North on Tuesday night.

The Gulls looked to have thrown away a 2-0 half time lead to leave empty-handed, but Bantick struck deep into injury time to earn an unlikely point.

Manager Mark Bentley made five changes from the side that were beaten 2-0 at home to Great Wakering Rovers at the weekend.

Southend United youngsters Freddy Eastwood and Sam Brogan did not travel, while Sam Bantick, Renei Batlokwa and Rob Lacey dropped to the bench. In came Tobi Joseph to partner Jason Hallett in attack, with Ryan Melaugh and Kane Gilbert taking their places on the left and right wings respectively.

Albert Levett returned from injury to return to the side in central midfield, partnering new signing Jack Stevenson who signed earlier in the day having last played for Great Wakering Rovers.

The match started with a high tempo, with both teams putting in plenty of effort to close down their opponents.

The first chance of the evening came on 13 minutes when Adam Hanson played the ball through for Armani Schaar to run onto for the hosts. Schaar made his way into the area before being held up, playing the ball back for Hanson to strike. He took a touch and got his shot off which Rob Budd was able to beat away at his front post.

Three minutes later Kane Gilbert tried his luck from 30 yards, connecting with a sweetly-struck shot which didn’t go too far wide of the upright with the keeper diving full to his left.

Canvey were given a massive let off on 23 minutes when former-Canvey man Stuart Ainsley played the ball across the face of goal from the left. The pass was straight to forward Oliver Canfer who was unmarked on the edge of the six yard box, but he failed to make contact with the ball at the vital moment when any touch would have surely resulted in a goal.

They did manage to hit the target three minutes later when a ball into the area from deep by Stuart Ainsley was brought under control by Armani Schaar. The striker managed to turn and get a shot off, although Rob Budd was equal to it after closing down the angle and saving low down.

The Gulls took the lead against the run of play on the half hour mark with a goal that left the home side incensed. The ball was poked through to Jason Hallett who converted from close range, although the Felixstowe rearguard were convinced that the forward was offside. However, the flag did not go up and Hallett’s goal was allowed to stand – his 22nd of the season.

The lead was doubled six minutes later after Jack Stevenson saw a dipping shot from 30 yards tipped over the crossbar by goalkeeper Jake Alley for a corner. Stevenson took the corner himself, swing the ball over which was met by the head of Michael Finneran who scored via the underside of the crossbar.

Felixstowe had a big chance to reduce the arrears on 42 minutes after Adam Hanson played the ball from the left into the feet of Oliver Canfer. The forward did well to cut inside James White and leave himself one-on-one, but after tucking the ball past Rob Budd, he could only watch as the shot struck the base of the post before being cleared by George Woodward.

The hosts came out of the traps quickly in the second half, with right back Callum Bennett seeing a long range effort saved by Rob Budd diving to his right inside sixty seconds. The loose ball fell kindly for a Felixstowe player, but Budd did well to pick himself up and turn the follow up effort into the side netting.

The subsequent corner was played to the back post where it found the head of Armani Schaar, but he could only steer his stretching header wide of the target.

Felixstowe had dominated the opening period of the second half and got the goal that they had deserved on 58 minutes. A long ball forwards was brought under control inside the box, but he hit his shot over the bar. However, the assistant referee signalled to the referee that a foul had been committed, and after a brief consultation the man in black pointed to the spot.

Callum Bennett stepped up and sent Rob Budd the wrong way to put his side back in the contest.

Canvey’s registered their first shot on goal of the second half three minutes later after Jason Hallett was fouled 25 yards from goal. James White managed to get his shot over the wall and back down again, but the keeper was able to save high above his head after shuffling to the right.

The equaliser came on 69 minutes after a free kick was harshly awarded against George Woodward in the left back position. Stuart Ainsley’s free kick into the box wasn’t dealt with and Oliver Canfer managed to tap home from close range having seen a point blank shot saved seconds earlier.

The turnaround was complete with four minutes remaining with a goal that Canvey handed to them on a plate. With no pressure on the ball whatsoever, Callum Bennett was allowed to advance down the right wing with what was no more than a jog. Getting to the edge of the box, Bennett turned inside a defender before firing past Budd diving to his left.

Referee Oliver Morris-Sanders added six additional minutes on at the end of the second half, and it was in the very final of these that Canvey drew level. A long ball forwards was headed by a defender to prevent Renei Batlokwa from latching on, but in doing so sent the ball straight to the feet of Sam Bantick who drove home unmarked.

There could have been even more late drama when Felixstowe midfielder Jordan Matthews went down in the area under the challenge of Albert Levett. The referee put the whistle to his mouth, but instead of awarding a penalty he gave Canvey a free kick and booked Matthews for simulation.