Match report by David Powell

Canvey Island secured a vital 3 points in their quest for winning the Isthmian League North with a 1-0 win over Dereham Town at Aldiss Park.

In a hard fought game of very few chances, a late strike from Matt Price gave Gulls a win that keeps them second in the table behind Aveley.
In front of a crowd of 333, the first half was a poor affair of very few chances.

Dereham closed down Canvey at every opportunity giving them little space to play their passing football and keeping Evans Kouassi, Price and Conor Hubble quiet.

Dereham edged the half and the best chance fell to Toby Hilliard on 23 minutes.

Dion Frary did well to run down the byline and cutback to Hilliard but his shot was blocked.

On 38 minutes, Mason Hall had to head over his own bar after a dangerous cross from the left by Hilliard.

The second half was far better from Canvey with Kouassi and Price starting to get into the game.

On 55 minutes, Kouassi jinked in from the left but blazed high over the crossbar.

Antoni Bort then had to save an awkward bouncing shot from Harrison Chatting turning his effort away for a corner.

Gulls did have the ball in the net on 64 minutes when Elliott Ronto headed home via the underside of the crossbar from a right wing cross but the goal was ruled out for offside.

Moments after that an excellent right wing cross flew across the face of goal and just eluded the onrushing Price and Kouassi who couldn't quite get a contact to the ball.

Price fired a low shot inches wide before going into the final 5 minutes of the game, Canvey scored a crucial winner.

Kouassi did superbly to rob the defender of possession and lay the ball back to Price who scored with a composed low finish into the bottom corner of the net.

Despite over 5 minutes of stoppage time being played, Canvey held firm in defence clearing their lines well to secure a vital 3 points that keeps them two points behind Aveley going into the last month of the season.