Canvey Island FC - The Official Website

Steve Sheehan and Alex Rhodes both missed the game through injury, with Steve Ward coming in along side John Easterford in central defence and Antonio Gonnella replacing Rhodes on the left wing.

The Gulls started the more lively of the two teams, with winger Gonnella going on several mazy runs without managing to deliver the ball into the area too often.

However, the first chance of the game fell to the visitors when Wade Small was slid in behind the Canvey defence and closed in on goal. With only Russell to beat, Small's shot missed the target when in a great position to give his side the best possible start.

Small would be made to rue this miss 2 minutes later when Canvey took the lead. Some excellent work by Kevin Dobinson saw him square the ball to Danny Heale just inside the penalty area. Heale collected the ball with his right foot, switched to his preferred left, and then back onto his right before hitting shot which took a slight deflection and found the top corner of the net.

Steve Ward's involvement in the match came to an end after only 18 minutes, with Michael Alaile coming on to fill the void in defence.

A minute later Jason Hallett nearly doubled the home side's advantage when he challenged Terrors' keeper Jack Giddens in the air. Hallett won the header, with both players and the ball falling on the goal line. However, unfortunately for Hallett his endeavour was not rewarded as the ball went away from goal instead of over the line and was cleared by the defence.

Canvey had to remain vigilant at the back, and on 24 minutes Lee Newman had a great opportunity to level the scoreline. As he released his shot, a superb last gasp tackle by Michael Alaile turned the ball behind for a corner to ensure that James Russell was not called into action.

Back up the other end, a smart 1-2 between Danny Heale and Jason Hallett saw the latter with a run on goal, although his powerful shot drifted just wide of the post.

Next came a real sustained period of pressure from Canvey in which Tooting had to defend for their lives to prevent conceding a second goal.

Firstly, a handball 25 yards from goal by Osa Obamwonyi earned him a booking and Canvey a free kick, which Danny Heale struck against the top of the wall and out for a corner. The corner found the head of Jason Hallett who sent the ball crashing against the crossbar. The ball rebounded to the head of John Easterford who steered a precise header which looked destined to creep in, but a superb diving headed clearance by Jamie Byatt prevented the goal.

Tooting reminded everyone that they were still in the match with some good passing football on 36 minutes which enabled them to move the ball from defence to attack, although the move eventually ended with Wade Small volleying over. Another similar attack 3 minutes later this time saw Jamie Byatt narrowly miss the target with an acrobatic effort.

The half time whistle couldn't come quickly enough for Canvey at this point with the visitors having their best spell of the match. A header from a corner forced James Russell to turn the ball behind for another corner kick, from which Wade Small flashed a header against the crossbar.

The second half started positively for The Gulls, with Antonio Gonnella's long range effort by tipped around the post by Jack Giddens. Up the other end, a rare mistake in midfield by Matt Game began a Tooting move which finished with James Russell beating away Reece Hall's shot on goal.

Jason Hallett was a continual thorn in the visitors side, although when his powerful shot was bravely blocked by Matt Drage on 54 minutes, the area of pain shifted from the side to slightly lower down.

Canvey's susceptibility to a long ball over the defence was exposed on 61 minutes, with Lee Newman getting a clear run on goal after taking the ball down in his stride. However, Andrew West never gave up the cause and put in a tremendous last gasp tackle to put the ball behind and deny Newman the shot. 3 minutes after Russell was forced to make a save, with a good long range effort from Small kept out by the Canvey custodian.

With Tooting enjoying some chances, Canvey's second goal came at a very opportune moment. Jason Hallett did fantastically well to win possession by the byline on the left wing before delivering a pinpoint cross for substitute Jay Curran to tap in from close range. Curran had been on the pitch for less than 10 minutes since replacing Danny Heale, scoring his second goal of the season.

A minute later Tooting had another chance, but Matt Drage's effort was once again saved by the unbeatable James Russell.

With 3 minues to play Leon Gordon replaces man-of-the-match Jason Hallett, and soon after the full time whistle sounded to seal the three points for Canvey.