Match report by David Powell.

Canvey Island continued their fine start to the season with a scintillating display in beating local rivals Grays Athletic 4-0 at Aveley’s Parkside stadium.

The Gulls dominated this match from start to finish ripping their opponents apart with some great attacking football. Canvey used the artificial pitch to their advantage playing a passing game and showing good attacking movement that caused the Grays defence numerous problems.

Right from the first whistle, Canvey were on top. Within 2 minutes, Tobi Joseph burst through down the left but his shot was under hit and saved easily by Danny Sambridge.

Evans Kouassi then fired over after cutting in from the right moments later before the former Heybridge man scored his first goal in Canvey colours on 6 minutes.

Joseph broke through once again. He seemed to be tugged back by a defender as he drew out the keeper but still got a shot away that was blocked. Harrison Chatting picked up the loose ball and found Kouassi who cut in from the left and drilled a low shot into the bottom corner of the net.

Grays had to make two substitutions within the first 25 minutes with former Canvey players Rob Bartley and Albert Levett making his debut for Grays coming on.

Connor Hubble tested Sambridge with an effort the keeper turned over the crossbar before Grays gradually settled and enjoyed their best spell of the match.

Bobby Mason had to punch a header away from a right sided corner before another former-Gull Tony Stokes saw a close range effort clear the crossbar.

This stung Canvey into action and a quick break saw Kouassi pick up the ball, drive at goal and force Sambridge to turn his shot over the crossbar for a corner.

Stokes fired into the side netting for Grays on 37 minutes and moments later, Canvey should have extended their lead after a fine passing move cut through the Blues rearguard. Jey Siva found space down the left and put in a perfect cross to Elliott Ronto but from 16 yards out he leant back and fired over.

It was a brief let off for Grays as a minute later Kouassi broke down the right and crossed to Joseph who tucked the ball home at the far post.
Canvey had a commanding 2-0 lead at half time but had to be wary of the threat from the likes of Stokes, Joao Carlos and former-Canvey winger Ryan Melaugh.

Stokes forced Mason into a save down by his post pushing the ball away for a corner but Gulls continued to look dominant and again Kouassi who was a constant irritation to the Grays’ defence with his pace and trickery forced Sambridge into a diving save turning a shot wide from 20 yards.

On 65 minutes, Sambridge made a superb reflex save when Siva’s excellent free kick from the right got a slight touch by Jamie Salmon who managed to flick the ball towards goal.

From the resulting corner it was 3-0. Hubble’s left wing corner was flicked on by a Grays’ defender to Ronto who slid in at the far post to touch the ball home.

Canvey were rampant now and added a fourth with the best goal of the game. Kouassi cheekily backheeled the ball into the path of Hubble who had ran ahead of him and from the left drilled in a fantastic low cross that Chatting finished at the far post.

Canvey put on Louie Hunt, Rob Lacey and Tom Blackwell and continued to create chances. Ronto saw a shot from the right beaten away by Sambridge on 74 minutes and then Hunt did brilliantly to find space down the right and cross for Blackwell but the ball just eluded the on loan Chelmsford striker.

Siva nearly got in on the act with a curling cross-shot from the left that missed the far post by inches as Canvey really started to enjoy themselves.

Grays’ frustration grew as Melaugh, Bartley and Joao Carlos were all booked in the final ten minutes. Melaugh did nearly grab a consolation but Mason was quick to block his shot from a counter attack.

The final whistle blew to complete a superb victory for Canvey who have now not conceded a goal in over 6 hours of competitive football.