Match report by David Powell

Canvey Island returned to winning ways with a 3-0 victory over Romford at Mayesbrook Park in the Isthmian League North.

In a game played in monsoon like conditions, Gulls made hard work of beating their bottom of the league opponents who on occasions gave them a real scare.

After a slow opening, Canvey took the lead on 12 minutes. Evans Kouassi burst past the left back and his low right wing cross was tapped home by Matt Price in the six yard area.

Price then saw a header deflected inches wide of the target before Harrison Chatting had a shot crash off of the post after receiving a fine pass from Odei Martin Sorondo.

Almost immediately Romford broke up the other end through Christian Gyamfi but his low shot was blocked well by Bobby Mason.

Kouassi then fired across goal and inches wide after being played in by Martin Sorondo on 29 minutes and Gulls continued to dominate the half without adding to the scoreline.

The second half continued in a similar vein. On 52 minutes, a good move down the left started by Jey Siva saw him play in Chatting who provided a fine cross that picked out Price at the far post but Romford keeper Luis Shamshoum made a marvellous reaction save to deny the striker.

Shamshoum then turned Price's shot around the post before Romford enjoyed a spell in which they asked a few questions of the Canvey defence.

As conditions started to worsen and the rain became heavier, Canvey found it hard to get a foothold in the game.

Gyamfi headed a corner wide and then Mason had to save a low skidding shot from Golden Igbineweka from 25 yards on a slippery surface. The ball ran loose but luckily for Canvey, Gyamfi was judged to be in an offside position.

Shamshoum made another good save on 73 minutes getting done well to Martin Sorondo's low free kick on the right hand edge of the penalty area saving well down by his post.

Canvey got themselves some breathing space on 81 minutes when they won a penalty. After a corner was partially cleared, Jamie Salmon played the ball into Rob Girdlestone who was caught by a clumsy tackle. From the resulting penalty, Kouassi stepped up to fire emphatically past the keeper.

The game was sealed on 86 minutes, when Salmon's excellent pass found substitute Callum Fitzer in the penalty area and he fired across the keeper and into the bottom corner of the net.

Canvey had further chances to increase their lead in injury time. Price robbed the ball off of Danny Cossington, rounded the keeper but was prevented from putting the ball into the net by a great block tackle from the Romford captain.

Price then in the final moments of the game broke down the right. His squared pass was intercepted by a defender but fell to Salmon whose low effort missed the goal by inches.

The final whistle blew moments later to complete a solid 3-0 victory that keeps Canvey in 3rd place on the tails of both Aveley and Stowmarket.