Canvey Island FC - The Official Website

Two defensive errors gave Lewes' Michael Malcolm the chance to give his team a two goal cushion going into half-time, with the Gulls on the back foot from the first whistle. The Rooks would have felt unlucky not to have scored more after retaining most of the possession, but the Gulls somehow managed to avoid an embarrasing scoreline.

It all changed in the second-half with Canvey Island finally starting to play football, getting their first shot on target and holding onto most of the possession. For the first time in the match, Lewes were being penned into their own half but the Gulls just couldn't find the goal that would get them back into it. Danny Heale came closest, beating the keeper with a powerful downward header being cleared off the line by Max Hustwick. A goal eventually came when Alex Rhodes met a Jason Hallett cross at the far post, smashing the ball past the in-form Lewes keeper.

Jason Hallett had two clear penalty shouts turned away by the referee - clearly being pulled down by his shirt for the first and being held back by his throat for the second. In between, the referee gave a penalty at the other end of the pitch, only for James Russell to make a fantastic save to stop Paul Booth from putting the points beyond reach. The Gulls kept putting pressure onto the Lewes defence, but couldn't find the equaliser they deserved. The referee blew for full-time, sending Canvey supporters home wondering what could have been, had they started playing from the start.

The Gulls are next in action against Waltham Abbey in a Friendly at Park Lane on Tuesday night, kick off at 7:45pm. Entry will be by donation, with all money raised going to local children in care.