Match Report by David Powell
Photo Credit - Nicky Hayes Photography

Canvey Island's wait for a home league win this season continued, as they were defeated 1-0 by Folkestone Invicta on Saturday afternoon at the Steves Taxis Stadium.

In front of a crowd of just under 400, the game was a close fought affair, with both sides guilty of missing big chances, before an unfortunate own goal on the 60th minute settled the score, condemning the Gulls to their first league defeat since early September.

The visitors, who counted former Canvey forward Evans Kouassi among their substitutes, made the livelier start to the game early on, with striker Daniel Smith firing over with an early effort, before forcing Bobby Mason into a good save shortly after, as he hit a header after receiving the ball out wide from Matthias Fanimo.

The Gulls survived the early scare and began to get into their stride, and were desperately unlucky not to go in front on 15 minutes.
Good work down the wing by Jaxon Brown was him find the space to hit a low cross into the area. It crept through to the back post, with Tobi Tinubu getting onto the ball but crashing his effort against the crossbar - and himself into the post in the process.

Canvey went close again 10 minutes later, with more good wing play seeing a ball into the box cause havoc in the area, though it was unable to be poked home after several blocks from the Folkestone defence.

The visitors still looked dangerous on the break however, and it was Fanimo's turn to go close on 37 minutes as he cut into the Canvey box but saw Bobby Mason equal to his effort.

The score remained goalless at the break though, with all to play for in the second half.
It was the visitors who continued to probe for holes in the Canvey defence, with Jack Jebb getting the first effort on goal, but once again saved by Bobby Mason.

It was the visitors who'd get the rub of the green though as they were gifted a goal on the 60th minute.
A free kick from the left flank was drifted into the box by Jebb, with Amadou Kassarate the intended target. Under pressure, Bradley Sach attempted to header away the cross, but saw the ball unintentionally drift into the goal, giving the visitors the lead.

This sparked Canvey into life, and much of the remainder of the half saw them pushing forward for an equaliser, with Tinubu and Yates applying pressure down the flanks as they looked to feed in the forwards.

Finlay Dorrell was introduced on the 70th minute for Sach, and made an immediate impact as he first saw a header drift wide of goal after a good delivery into the box, before then having a drive at goal blocked by a Folkestone defender.

With Chris Harris now the target man in the box, he was unlucky to see a header turned onto the crossbar by a fingertip save from Jonathan Henly on the 86th minute, though the linesman had flagged an offside in the process.

His best chance, and the Gulls best chance for an equaliser, perhaps came in injury time. Manny Adebiyi's ball in from wide was flicked on by Harris with a header, but drifted just inches wide of the post.

The full time whistle sounded shortly after, with the Gulls condemned to another league setback at home. They'll have the chance to make amends on Tuesday evening though, with Carshalton Athletic the visitors to the Steves Taxis Stadium.