Match report by David Powell

Canvey Island picked up their first 3 points of the season with a 1-0 victory over Felixstowe & Walton United at Park Lane.

This was a close game with Felixstowe creating the better chances in the first half and Canvey dominating the second but Gulls always looked in control of the game once they took the lead and will feel they could have won by a greater margin.

After a quiet opening 15 minutes, Canvey created the first opportunity of the game.

A fine run and cross from Tobi Tinubu down the right saw him pick out Matt Price but his first time volley brought out a great reaction save from Callum Robinson.

On 19 minutes, Mike Finneran who had scored in Gulls’ two previous matches against Felixstowe saw an effort blocked on the line after getting on the end of a corner.

Felixstowe did create a number of good opportunities and on 23 minutes, Bobby Mason in the Canvey goal had to be sharp to keep out an Armani Schaar header after the player had charged down Mason’s initial clearance.

Billy Holland curled an effort wide from 25 yards and then Stuart Ainsley who featured for Canvey in the 2008/09 season picked out Schaar with a fine left wing cross but his header was kept out well by Mason who dived to his left to brilliantly palm the ball away.

The best chance of the half fell to Canvey just before half time. A left wing cross from Jey Siva picked out Price but his header cleared the crossbar by inches.

Canvey began the second half in determined fashion and after Price dragged an effort wide from 20 yards, they took the lead on 51 minutes.
Great work from Evans Kouassi down the left saw his cross met by Elliott Ronto who got there fractionally before the defender to flick the ball home.

After that, Canvey were in control but couldn’t get the second goal to kill the game off.

Price thought he had doubled Canvey’s lead on 61 minutes when he touched home Tinubu’s right wing cross but the linesman’s flag ruled the goal out.

Tinubu and Kouassi looked lively down the wings and on several occasions got into promising positions in the penalty area but good defending from Felixstowe kept them at bay.

There was a controversial moment on 85 minutes when substitute Callum Fitzer darted into the penalty area from the left but appeared to be chopped down by a Felixstowe defender but the referee waved play on with many expecting a penalty to be given.

Felixstowe won a free kick in a dangerous position deep into injury time but Joe Whight fired high over the crossbar with the full time whistle blowing seconds later.

Gulls are next in action on Bank Holiday Monday when they travel to Tilbury.