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Canvey were far from their best in this game and a goal from Danny Heale on the hour mark was all that separated the two sides.

Managerless Leatherhead made life difficult for the Gulls and were the better side for much of the first half with James Russell having to make a string of fine saves to keep Canvey in the contest.

Gulls started brightly and bossed the opening ten minutes. Leon Gordon was nearly on target with a bizarre effort when a Leatherhead defender’s clearance bounced off him and flew just wide of Chico Ramos’ goal.

Leatherhead gradually settled though and Canvey struggled to impose themselves on the game and retain possession often giving the ball away needlessly.

Kevin Dobinson and Matt Game found it hard to get into the game and Danny Heale was struggling to make an impact up front as Canvey failed to trouble the Leatherhead defence.

The long throws of Leatherhead’s Liam Pestle was also causing Canvey problems with Steve Sheehan and John Easterford having to be on their toes to clear the danger.

Leatherhead enjoyed a good spell of pressure around the half hour mark. Firstly Greg Andrews took advantage of a slip by Michael Alaile and fired in a shot that Russell managed to beat out. The loose ball fell to Tommy Hutchings who struck a low shot that took a slight deflection but Russell did brilliantly to get down and turn the ball aside for a corner.

Russell made another great save on 33 minutes when Pestle met Hutchings’ right wing corner at the near post but the keeper brilliantly turned his header over the crossbar.

Canvey weathered this storm and ended the half well. Andrews was booked after chopping down Alaile as he broke down the right and attempted a cross on 40 minutes.

Gulls eventually tested Ramos on the stroke of half time when Robbie King got on the end of Dobinson’s free kick into the six yard box but King was unable to force the ball past the keeper.
Canvey were better after half time but still took a while to get going. A goal just before the hour finally shook them from their slumber.

Ashley Dumas broke down the left and played in a precise cross that Heale met with his head to guide past Ramos and open the scoring.

Gulls brought on Jay Curran and Antonio Gonnella for Gordon and Alex Rhodes and began to settle and dominate the game.

Gonnella nearly made the game safe on 77 minutes when he latched on to Heale’s flicked header, muscled his way between two defenders but poked his effort just wide of the post.

Leatherhead tried hard to get back into the game but Canvey were defending strongly with Sheehan and Easterford making numerous clearances.

They did have one scare, two minutes from the end when captain Danny Gainsford sent a towering header over the crossbar from a right wing corner.

Gulls held out to secure their 6th win in 8 league games and join Lowestoft at the top on goal difference.

Canvey are next in action on Tuesday night when Aveley visit Park Lane.