Canvey Island FC - The Official Website

This was Gulls’ third consecutive league win and it was thoroughly deserved after they dominated the majority of the game.

It was only a man of the match winning performance from Rooks’ goalkeeper Rikki Banks that kept Canvey at bay as the Gulls created numerous chances against an injury hit Lewes side.

Gulls started brightly against their play off chasing opponents. Jason Hallett in particular looked lively up front and on 11 minutes he saw a volley deflected just over the crossbar.

Hallett was influential in creating Canvey’s next opportunity on 14 minutes when his pass found Alex Rhodes in space and free of the last defender. As the winger was about to shoot, the ball took a nasty bobble and he could only skew his shot wide of the far post.

James Comley was having another impressive match in the midfield and the former Crystal Palace player bossed the game, rarely giving the ball away and winning numerous tackles.

Against the run of play, Lewes took the lead on 24 minutes. Christian Nanetti’s left wing cross picked out Paul Booth unmarked at the far post and the striker headed home past James Russell.

This failed to discourage Canvey and they kept creating the better chances. Two minutes later, Comley’s right wing cross was met by Jay Curran who sent a diving header towards goal. Banks stretched brilliantly to turn the ball away and with the goal gaping Bradley Woods Garness could only steer the ball wide from two yards out under pressure from Charlie Leach.

Banks saved well at his near post from Curran and then did well to scoop a John Easterford header away from the line after a Canvey set piece had caused chaos in the penalty area.

Gulls must have found it hard to believe they were a goal down at half time but they continued where they left off in the second half and grabbed a deserved equaliser within 5 minutes.

Hallett did superbly to chest the ball into the path of Rhodes and from just inside the penalty area he guided a well placed low shot beyond Banks and into the corner of the net for his 4th goal in 5 matches.

Canvey’s confidence grew and the Lewes’ defence just couldn’t handle the pace of Rhodes and Woods Garness and the tenacity of Hallett and Curran as Gulls poured forward in search of a winner.

Canvey somehow failed to score when a right wing free kick from Rhodes caused an almighty scramble in the penalty area which saw Curran and Woods Garness both have shots blocked.

Curran’s pass then released Hallett down the left hand side of the penalty area but he fired across goal and wide on 60 minutes.

Lewes manager Simon Wormull brought himself on in a desperate attempt to get his side back into the game. Ian Draycott tested Russell with a half volley and Booth curled an effort wide of the far post after finding space on the left from a decent counter attack but the change had minimal effect.

Canvey replaced the industrious Curran with Dean Mason on 63 minutes and Mason’s pace proved to be another headache for the Lewes’ defence.

Another goal seemed inevitable and this came on 72 minutes. A loose ball fell to Woods Garness on the edge of the area and he controlled the ball before firing a fierce half volley beyond Banks and into the bottom corner of the net.

Danny Heale replaced Hallett on 79 minutes and Heale nearly provided an opportunity for Mason with a clever pass but Banks was out quickly to save at the feet of the former AFC Wimbledon winger.

Lewes tried desperately to conjure an equaliser but Canvey were in no mood to give their lead away. This was typified by a magnificent challenge from Steve Ward that prevented the striker from getting on the end of a right wing cross.

Robbie King tried his luck from 25 yards on 88 minutes and Comley showed his class as he dictated the game with some intelligent passes, keeping Canvey on the front foot for the remaining minutes of the game.

Despite 4 minutes of stoppage time, Canvey held out comfortably to record an impressive win that lifts them up the table to 8th place.

Gulls will look to continue their fine run of form under Glen Alzapiedi with victory over another play off hopeful when Met Police visit Park Lane on Tuesday night.