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The home side were good value for their win, with Canvey having to ask some questions about the lack of consistency which has been a re-occuring theme so far this season.

Canvey started the match brightly and were looking dangerous going forwards. They forced 4 corners in the opening 5 minutes, 2 of which were whipped in to dangerous areas where Bury goalkeeper Marcus Garnham did well to deny Steve Sheehan from heading home his first goal for the club.

Jay Curran was a matter of inches from giving Canvey the lead on 7 minutes. Goalkeeper Garnham rushed from his goal to clear a loose ball, but scuffed his kick straight to the Canvey striker 30 yards from goal. Curran lobbed the ball goalwards, only for it to bounce and narrowly miss the far post to go out for a goal kick.

After a positive start, it was therefore disappointing that the hosts took the lead with their first attack of note after 9 minutes. John Sands hit a ball from his own half which Michael Alaile through a leg at but failed to connect, allowing Daniel Cunningham to race through and slot home from the edge of the area past the diving James Russell.

The goal turned the match in Bury’s favour, and they went on to have numerous chances to add to their tally.

First, Sam Reed warmed the hands of James Russell with a swerving shot from distance which fortunately went straight to the reliable keeper.

Then on 29 minutes, Russell proved what an asset he is to the side with a tremendous double save. Sam Reed got in behind the Canvey defence to chase onto a long ball, although his shot was saved by Russell. The ball squirmed free for Lee Reed to run onto, but his follow up effort was turned over by Russell when a goal looked certain.

On 32 minutes Cunningham nearly went from goalscorer to provider, crossing in from the left onto the head of Craig Nurse. However, Nurse was unfortunate to see his header hit the crossbar.

The pressure finally told on 37 minutes when Sam Reed latched onto Cunningham’s lofted ball down the left wing. Reed appeared to foul John Easterford but was allowed to continue, eventually squaring for Craig Nurse who was unmarked an allowed to fire into the roof of the net from just wide of the penalty spot.

This goal left Canvey with a mountain to climb in the second half, and apart from a 10 minute spell towards the end of the match, the goal never really looked like coming.

Sam Reed continued to cause the Gulls’ defence plenty of problems, and after getting past Steve Sheehan, his shot went just wide of the post on 62 minutes.

There were plenty more opportunities for the hosts to add a third goal, most notably when James Russell did brilliantly to keep John Sands effort out thanks to a save low down to his right.

Canvey held on to ensure they did not concede any further goals, but the fact that they had to endure such heavy pressure throughout was a concern.

The Gulls now go into the Christmas period and New Year knowing that performances will need to drastically improve if they are going make in roads into their league and cup ambitions.