Match report by David Powell

Canvey Island suffered a dent in their promotion aspirations after going down to a 2-1 defeat against Coggeshall Town at West Street.

Gulls struggled to get going for much of the match but looked set to gain a point until a last gasp goal from Joshua Pollard gave the hosts a narrow win.

Canvey started the match slowly and after Alex Teniola fired wide from 25 yards found themselves a goal down on 11 minutes.

Former Gull Ayrton Coley crossed from the right and Teniola headed the ball back across goal and into the net.

Ross Wall fired wide after good work from Teniola before Canvey settled and got a foothold in the game.

On 23 minutes, Evans Kouassi linked up with Matt Price who crossed but the ball just eluded Bradley Sach.
Coggeshall keeper Matt Cafer had to make a good save to keep out a stinging shot from Jamie Salmon before 9 minutes before half time,

Bobby Mason in the Canvey goal had to be alert to keep out Dylan Logan’s chipped effort from 25 yards.

In the second half, Canvey continued to have plenty of possession without really creating much in front of goal.

Logan had another opportunity when he got through on goal but his low effort was saved well by Mason diving low to his left.

Cafer made a save from Salmon but as the game drifted towards the last ten minutes it seemed Canvey were running out of ideas until a superb strike from substitute O’ Shane Stewart appeared to have rescued a point for the Gulls.

Stewart had replaced Sach 10 minutes previously and on 83 minutes, the former Southend midfielder picked the ball up 30 yards from goal and hammered a sublime effort into the top corner of the net.

That seemed to have sealed at least a point for Canvey but going into injury time, Coggeshall won a couple of free kicks in good positions and from a right wing kick, the ball was cleared as far as Josh Pollard who hammered home an unstoppable volley from the edge of the penalty area.

The final whistle blew a few minutes later to seal a disappointing defeat for Canvey who will look to bounce back on Tuesday night when they face Sudbury at Park Lane.