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Hallett opened the scoring as early as the fourth minute after a well executed through pass saw the forward with the ball at his feet on the edge of the area. He advanced towards goal before rounding the keeper and slotting into the net from a tight angle.

One welcome return to the lineup was Hussein Isa, who left the club last season to play for Aveley only to return for the pre-season preparations at Park Lane. Isa almost got himself onto the score sheet on 9 minutes, after Kevin Dobinson had won an important tackle on the half way line. The tackle released Alex Rhodes on the left wing who charged towards the byline and delivered a low cross which Jason Hallett held up well with his back to goal. Hallett managed to turn and shoot but his shot was well blocked, with the resulting rebound falling to Isa who shot narrowly wide. 

Alex Rhodes was seeing plenty of the ball, and on 12 minutes he unleashed a shot from the edge of the area which sailed over the crossbar.

3 minutes later and Canvey’s advantage was doubled when Hallett found the back of the net once again with the aid of a deflection. A poor throw by Heybridge in their own right back position gifted the ball to Hallett, who in turn beat his man and fired a left footed shot across goal, which deflected off of a Swifts’ defender and into the net.

Canvey were well and truly in control of the match at this point, and striker Ellis Skidmore’s goal-bound shot was blocked on the line following a corner from the right on 22 minutes.

Despite Canvey’s pressure, the hosts thought they had pulled one back on 34 minutes when Heybridge’s number 10 headed home from a corner, only for the referee to disallow the goal after spotting an infringement.

Half time saw 6 changes take place, with Kevin Dobinson, Michael Alaile, Hussein Isa, Alex Rhodes, Ellis Skidmore, and Frank Everett making way for Danny Heale, Jamie Matthews, Danny Kerrigan, new signing Steve Sheehan, and trialists Andrew Line, and Joe Green.

It didn’t take long for the new Canvey XI to make an impact, with the result being put beyond doubt 4 minutes into the restart when Jason Hallett cut in from the right hand side of the area before drilling home his and Canvey’s third goal of the afternoon. 

Having had a goal ruled out in the first half, Heybridge’s number 10 should have made no doubt at the second time of asking 2 minutes later, when a low left wing cross found the centre forward unmarked in front of goal. However, he was only able to look on as his shot was scuffed wide of the target, much to Canvey’s relief.

It was Canvey’s turn to have a goal cancelled out on 56 minutes, when a foul on the left wing allowed Ashley Dumas to whip in a free kick. The ball was met in the air expertly by centre back John Easterford who’s bullet header crashed into the back of the net before the linesman’s flag postponed the celebrations.

Trialist Joe Green nearly scored on his first appearance for the club on 71 minutes, although after taking the ball past the Heybridge keeper, hit shot was blocked on the line and the danger was cleared.

Another trialist, Mick Carboni, entered the fray on 73 minutes when he replaced Ashley Dumas.

Despite scoring a hattrick, Jason Hallett wasn’t in the mood to take his foot of the pedal, and was unlucky to see his powerful shot skim the top of the crossbar with 10 minutes to play. However, he made up for not finding the net on the occasion on 88 minutes when his left wing cross was steered home by Joe Green to seal what was an impressive win for John Batch’s side.

Canvey Island: James Russell, Frank Everett (Off 45), Ashley Dumas (Off 73), Kevin Dobinson (Off 45), Michael Alaile (Off 45), John Easterford, Hussein Isa (Off 45), Matt Game (c), Jason Hallett, Alex Rhodes (Off 45). Subs: Mick Carboni (On 73), Jamie Matthews (On 45), Danny Kerrigan (On 45), Steve Sheehan (On 45), Andrew Line (On 45), Danny Heale (On 45), Joe Green (On 45).