Canvey made a fast start to the game with Evans Kouassi having an effort deflected wide of goal and then Harrison Chatting poked through an excellent pass that Tobi Joseph nearly got on the end of but Romford keeper Matthew Cafer was quick off his line to claim.

On 12 minutes, Canvey hit the woodwork for the first time in the match. A left-wing free-kick from Jey Siva was met by the head of Mike Finneran but his header struck the crossbar and bounced over.

Moments later, Finneran had another chance getting on the end of Conor Hubble’s excellent corner from the left but his header cleared the crossbar by inches.

Romford finally created a chance of their own with Bobby Mason equal to a long-range effort but for much of the half, Canvey had them penned back with Kouassi again a lively influence on the left.

Chatting nearly scored with a thumping 30 yard drive on 26 minutes but Cafer did brilliantly to turn the ball on to the crossbar and away for a corner.

Canvey continued to carve out chances with Joseph dragging a shot across goal and then former Gulls’ defender Gabby Adelowo received a yellow card after bringing down Kouassi.

Canvey were inches away from taking the lead just before half time when a brilliant cross from Dan Humphreys found Hubble in the penalty area. His acrobatic, overhead kick seemed destined for the net but smashed against the inside of the post and was cleared.
Canvey went in at half time finding it hard to believe that they were not in front.

The second half was more of a battle for Canvey as Romford defended well and stuck men behind the ball making it difficult for Gulls to break them down.

Elliott Ronto tested Cafer with an effort on 50 minutes and Cafer was involved in a key moment in the game 8 minutes later when he went down injured following a challenge by Humphreys as he contested a loose ball.

Humphreys was booked for the challenge and the Gibraltar international keeper was forced off of the field with a nasty injury to his left eye.
With no sub keeper on the bench, Romford manager Glen Tamplin chose outfield player Adrian Cascaval went in goal for the remainder of the game..

To their credit, Romford fought hard to keep Canvey at bay with Dave Winfield showing his experience at the back with a number of timely interventions.

Canvey found it hard to make the extra man advantage count but thought they had taken the lead on 73 minutes when substitute Tom Blackwell cut in from the right, dribbled past a couple of players and poked in a shot that Cascaval failed to hold but was relieved to watch dribble across the face of goal and wide.

The makeshift keeper did well to save a deflected effort from Kouassi turning the shot aside for a corner minutes later and Romford dug in during the final 15 minutes as Canvey tried patiently to break them down.

Hubble fired over from 25 yards with the keeper beaten and Kouassi nearly broke the deadlock in the first of eight minutes of stoppage time but Cascaval was able to get a foot to his effort and deflect it away.

Despite their pressure, Canvey were unable to find a crucial winning goal and had to settle for a point in front of an impressive crowd of 336.

LISTEN: Mark Bentley post-match interview with Simon Pitts.

Photo: KJA Sports Images