Match report by David Powell

Canvey Island moved up to 2nd in the Pitching In Isthmian League Division One North with an emphatic 4-1 win over Heybridge Swifts at the Aspen Waite Arena.

In a game played in awful wet and windy conditions, Canvey were dominant for much of the match and were good value for their win.

Former Gulls' player and manager Steve Tilson had recently replaced another ex-Canvey player Julian Dicks as Swifts' manager and after steering them to a 3-2 victory over Maldon last weekend, he was hoping to keep the momentum going.

Right from the start, Canvey adapted to the conditions better and although Adam Topley fired a 25 yard effort wide for Swifts, it was Canvey who looked the better side.

Conor Hubble had a free kick blocked by the Swifts' defensive wall before Evans Kouassi playing against his former side caused danger with a couple of great left wing crosses.

It was a former Heybridge player that came back to haunt his old club on 25 minutes. A fine pass from Hubble saw Matt Price get in behind Chris Gregan and he showed great composure to knock the ball around keeper Callum Chafer and fire home from 18 yards.

The wind at this stage was favouring Heybridge and as the pitch became more slippery in the torrential rain it caused both sides to make errors. Andy Fennell was played in behind the Canvey defence on 34 minutes but a great recovery from Evangelos Empochontsif saw the striker fire off target under pressure from the defender.

It was a short lived reprieve as moments later a loose ball found Jack Adlington-Pile in plenty of space and from the right hand edge of the area he fired a belter of a shot that flew past Bobby Mason and into the far corner of the net.

Canvey responded well and Chafer had to make a fantastic save on the stroke of half time to deny the impressive Hubble when the midfielder showed great skill to make space for himself on the edge of the area and chip in a shot that Chafer clawed away for a corner.

The second half saw Canvey with the wind in their favour and as conditions worsened, Canvey used them to their advantage.

Hubble had already impressed with his range of passing but now he was looking dangerous from set pieces and in a swirling wind and on a slippery surface, Heybridge just couldn't cope with his deliveries into the penalty area.

After a Hubble corner was headed wide by a Heybridge defender another delivery from the former Maldon midfielder caused chaos in the penalty area and Empochontsif was on hand to poke home the loose ball for his first goal in Canvey colours on 54 minutes.

Price then robbed Jeremy Arthur of possession in the penalty area but slipped as he was about to shoot and could only fire into the side netting.

Another Hubble free kick wide on the left forced Chafer to punch his swirling effort away and Heybridge despite some promising moves just couldn't break down a Canvey defence marshalled well by Empochontsif and Mike Finneran and ably assisted by Tobi Tinubu and Darnell Shakes who were both excellent at full back.

Canvey looked to kill the game off on 78 minutes. Another Hubble free kick from the left was parried by Chafer straight to captain Michael Finneran who squared the ball across goal to Jamie Salmon who had the simple task of taping the ball home.

Heybridge looked a beaten side now. Hubble's free kick struck the woodwork before the game was sealed on 85 minutes. Harrison Chatting's right wing corner caught in the wind and forced Chafer to punch the ball straight to Finneran. He headed the ball goalwards and looked to be adding a goal to his earlier assist, but Conor Hubble got the final touch to send the ball over the line.

Heybridge did come close in injury time when Daniel Walker fired wide at the near post from a left wing cross but by now the game was won for Canvey who are now unbeaten in their first 7 league games and sit second a point behind Grays in the table.