Match report by David Powell

Canvey Island made it 6 wins in 7 games after an exciting 3-2 victory over Barking at Park Lane in the Isthmian League North.

Gulls looked down and out when with ten minutes to go they found themselves 2-0 down but three goals in a sensational final 8 minutes gave Canvey a vital victory that keeps them top of the league.

For much of the game, Canvey found it difficult to get going. They enjoyed plenty of possession but found it difficult to break down a Barking defence marshalled well by former Leyton Orient defender Elliott Omozusi and Jay Leader.

On 3 minutes, after Conor Hubble had a shot blocked, Harrison Chatting volleyed wide from 18 yards but Barking looked a threat on the counter attack.

On 16 minutes, former Gulls and Hornchurch striker George Purcell found space down the left and forced Bobby Mason into pushing his shot away to safety.

Five minutes later, it was Canvey on the attack. Matt Price robbed a defender of possession, raced clear of James Folkes but fired his shot just over from the edge of the penalty area.

Barking's opening goal came on 32 minutes after indecision in the Canvey defence. A long ball down field caused Bobby Mason to come out and head away under pressure from Freddie Parker but with the keeper off his line, Purcell showed great awareness to head the ball back over him and score from 25 yards.

Hubble nearly equalised moments later with a curling effort from the left hand edge of the penalty area going just wide of the far post.

Worse was to follow for Canvey when on 35 minutes another sloppy goal gave Barking a 2 goal advantage. Mason spilt a shot and the ball was put back in from the right to Kieran Jones to tap home.

Parker nearly made the situation impossible for Canvey on 45 minutes when he found space down the left hand side of the area but fired his volley into the ground for Mason to save easily.

Canvey were 2-1 down to Barking at half time in the corresponding fixture back in October but for much of the second half didn't look capable of taking anything from the game.

Mason had to be alert to turn over a George Okoye shot on 51 minutes and Mike Finneran made an excellent block to deny a goal bound shot.

Canvey brought on recent signing from Bowers & Pitsea Bradley Sach to make his home debut but despite dominating possession rarely looked like testing James Shaw in the Barking goal.

Sach headed an effort over but as the game moved into the final 8 minutes it looked like Canvey would be going home empty handed.

The match turned on a penalty decision with 7 minutes remaining. Omozusi appeared to handle Chatting's shot in the penalty area and the referee had no hesitation in giving a penalty. Price stepped up and despite Shaw guessing the right way fired his penalty into the left hand corner of the net.

It gave Canvey a lifeline and on 87 minutes, they drew level. Jey Siva found space down the left and his cross was collected by Price at the far post who played the ball back across goal for Sach to tap home into an empty net for his first goal in Canvey colours.

The momentum was now with Canvey as Barking heads started to drop and a minute from time, they completed a magnificent comeback with Evans Kouassi scoring a superb strike. Kouassi picked up Sach's header and from 18 yards drilled a low shot into the bottom corner to spark wild celebrations amongst the Canvey supporters and players.

Barking looked stunned and their cause was not helped when in injury time Barney Williams received a second yellow card then a red for a late tackle.

The whistle blew minutes later to seal a fantastic against the odds win for Canvey. Gulls were certainly not at their best today but showed great resolve and a never say die attitude to turn a losing position into three crucial points.

Photo: KJA Sports Images