Match report by David Powell

Canvey Island's recent poor run of form continued with a 2-0 defeat against Felixstowe & Walton United at the Goldstar Ground in their final fixture before Christmas.

On a gloomy, misty afternoon, Gulls were second best against their Suffolk opponents who belied their lowly position in the Isthmian North table with an excellent performance.

It could have been a worse defeat for Canvey with Bobby Mason making a number of fine saves to keep the score down.

Canvey gave a league debut to young striker Liam Oliver who has impressed for Rayleigh Town in the Essex Olympian Premier League this season.

After 4 minutes Mason was forced into a save from Oliie Canfer's toe poke after good play by Lamell Howell. Josh Hitter then fired in a fine volley from around 18 yards that Mason did well to turn away.

Felixstowe's liveliest player was winger Henry Barley who caused chaos in the Canvey defence down the right wing. On 12 minutes a direct run down the right saw a good cross met by a powerful header from Canfer that produced a fantastic acrobatic save from Mason turning the ball over the crossbar.

After a slow start, Canvey finally created a chance of their own on 16 minutes. A quickly taken free kick by Conor Hubble found Matt Price in space in the penalty area but his low shot thumped off of the post and away to safety.

Price then had a shot that took a deflection off of Stuart Ainsley but was saved by keeper Callum Robinson.

Felixstowe took a deserved lead on 31 minutes with a brilliantly worked goal. A good passing move saw Canfer break down the right and square the ball to Charlie Warren to tap home from close range.

Amari Schaar nearly made it worse for Canvey with a curling shot from 25 yards from the right that just cleared the far post.

Felixstowe were rampant now and Mason had to beat away a shot from Warren on 36 minutes before brilliantly turning away Barley's thunderous effort after the winger had cut in from the right.

Canvey replaced Harrison Chatting with Odei Martin at half time and did pose more of a threat to the Felixstowe goal.

Hubble headed over and then Price fired over from 10 yards after the ball was passed into him from the right.

Canvey's cause was not helped after Odei Martin was shown a second yellow card and then a red for a late tackle on Billy Holland on 64 minutes.

Almost immediately, Price took aim from 25 yards but his looping shot just cleared the crossbar.

Mason made a good save from Sam Ford's effort and made an even better save on 78 minutes twice denying Barley in quick succession.

This was a short reprieve though and Felixstowe sealed the game on 80 minutes taking advantage of sloppy defending from a corner.

Ford found space in the penalty area and was able to pick his spot well sending a shot over Mason and into the net.

It could have been far worse when Canfer broke clear and from 30 yards attempted a chip over Mason with a Canvey defender managing to clear the ball off of the line.

Canvey remain in 2nd place with a game in hand on leaders Stowmarket and will look to end a bad run of results when Tilbury come to Park Lane on Bank Holiday Monday.