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This was the second time in a week that Gulls have come from behind to take all three points and they were good value for their win.

Canvey made a sluggish start and went behind after 12 minutes. Michael Gordon’s cross from the left was partially cleared to Bobby Traynor on the edge of the D and the striker struck a sweet half volley beyond James Russell and into the bottom corner of the net.

Kingstonian were attacking well down the wings and Steve Ward and John Easterford were kept busy, dealing with numerous dangerous crosses into the penalty area.
 

Gulls gradually settled and new signing Antonio Gonnella making his debut after signing during the week created an opportunity for Danny Heale on 16 minutes. Heale side stepped a defender and smashed in a shot that keeper Rob Tolfrey parried away. Alex Rhodes touched home the rebound but the ‘goal’ was disallowed for offside.

A minute later, Kingstonian suffered the same fate when Traynor headed home Jerome Maledon’s cross but the linesman’s flag ruled the effort out.

Gonnella then did well to find Ashley Dumas in space on the left on 20 minutes but his low pacey cross was held well by Tolfrey under pressure from the onrushing forwards.
 

Most of Kingstonian’s best moves came down the left with Tom Bird and Sam Clayton linking up well. Clayton’s curling cross-shot forced Russell to turn the ball over the crossbar on 34 minutes.

Gulls gradually got on top and during a good spell of pressure they won a series of corners that tested the Ks’ defence.
 

Canvey got a deserved equaliser on 37 minutes with Alex Rhodes celebrating the birth of his new child with a superb individual effort. Rhodes picked up a cross-field ball on the left, accelerated past Dean Hamlin and fired a low shot from the corner of the penalty area past Tolfrey and into the bottom corner of the net.
 

Canvey’s confidence visibly rose and Robbie King was unlucky not to give them the lead just before half time when Easterford headed back Rhodes’ right wing corner and King met the ball with a stinging close range volley that Tolfrey brilliantly turned over the crossbar.
 

The second half was a quieter affair. Ks enjoyed a great deal of possession but found Easterford, Ward and Michael Alaile in excellent form.
 

Gulls suffered an injury blow with Kevin Dobinson limping off on 54 minutes. His replacement, Danny Kerrigan was soon involved in the action when he dragged a low shot wide of the far post after Rhodes’ left wing cross was partially cleared.
 

Simon Huckle came close with a header wide from Bird’s cross and the same players combined moments later with Bird sending in a teasing left wing cross that Huckle met with a powerful header but his effort was straight at Russell.
 

Canvey were defending well and breaking up the play in midfield with Matt Game instigating some of their best moves.
 

A quick break allowed them to go in front on 72 minutes. Rhodes picked up a loose ball from Ian Selley and broke towards goal. He slipped a perfectly timed pass through to Heale who went on and struck a low shot across Tolfrey that appeared to be going into the corner of the net but bounced off of the inside of the post. Heale though was alert to the danger and had the precense of mind to reach the rebound and knock the ball back across goal for King to head home from a few yards out.
 

Jack Macleod came on for Kingstonian and nearly grabbed an equaliser latching on to a long punt up-field and flicking the ball over the onrushing Russell but the ball dropped harmlessly wide.
 

Canvey may have made the game safe on 82 minutes when King’s low shot from 20 yards after a pass by Game forced Tolfrey to turn the ball around the post for a corner.

Kingstonian put the Canvey defence under pressure in the last few minutes but Alaile, Ward and Easterford were all dominant in the air and the only scare they had came in injury time when a quickly taken free kick from Bird found Huckle but he planted his header wide of the target.
 

This was a good, solid performance from Canvey who have now taken 6 points from their opening three games.
 

They look to increase that tally with victory over newly promoted East Thurrock United on Bank Holiday Monday.