Match report by David Powell

Canvey Island returned to winning ways after an emphatic 5-1 victory over Tilbury at Park Lane.

In front of a crowd of 474 on a wet afternoon, this was Gulls' first victory in a Boxing Day/27th December fixture in 16 years.

Despite going behind early on , Gulls battled back well and were good value for their win.

Things didn't get off to a great start when Canvey conceded the first goal in bizarre fashion. From Rob Girdlestone's back pass Bobby Mason's clearance hit Roman Campbell as he attempted to close down the keeper and cannoned into the net after 4 minutes.

To their credit Gulls responded well and Evans Kouassi returning to the side after illness was back to his best grabbing a fine equaliser on 14 minutes. Conor Hubble's through ball released the winger down the right and he rounded Harry Girling before expertly finishing into the net.

After a slow start, Canvey were now in the ascendancy and only a good save from Girling prevented Elliott Ronto from giving Canvey the lead on 22 minutes when a good passing move down the left saw the ball played into the penalty area and Ronto take advantage of a slip by a defender to fire in a shot that the keeper turned wide for a corner.

Four minutes later, Canvey were ahead thanks to another fine strike from Hubble. Tobi Tinibu was fouled on the edge of the penalty area and Hubble stepped up to curl the resulting free kick over the wall and into the net.

Matt Price nearly made it 3 on 32 minutes after receiving the ball from Kouassi and making space for himself down the right but Girling turned his shot from a tight angle over the crossbar for a corner.

Moments later Mason made a crucial double save to keep Canvey's lead intact. From a right wing free kick, Lewis Smith was left unmarked at the far post and his header was brilliantly clawed away by Mason. The rebound fell to Charlie Kendall but Mason held his follow up well.

Gulls went into the break 2-1 up and soon increased their lead almost straight from the kick off. Price received the ball on the right hand side of the penalty area and hit a low shot that took a slight deflection as it beat the keeper.

Price glanced a header wide at the far post from Hubble's right wing cross and Kouassi dragged a shot wide as Canvey dominated the second half.

Price then burst through on goal from the right on 66 minutes but fired across goal and wide.

Canvey finished with a flourish with two great goals in the closing minutes of the game. The best of them came on 89 minutes when from Hubble's left wing corner, a Tilbury defender headed clear as far as Jamie Salmon who from 25 yards unleashed a powerful first time volley that ripped past the keeper and into the net reminiscent of Tony Yeboah's wonder strike for Leeds against Liverpool over 25 years ago.

In injury time, Hubble rubbed salt into Tilbury's wounds with a fine low strike from 25 yards that nestled into the bottom corner of the net.

The win keeps Canvey in second place a point behind Stowmarket before a big local derby against Grays Athletic at Parkside on New Year's Day.

Photo: KJA Sports Images.