Match Report by David Powell

Canvey Island missed out on the chance to move up the table on Saturday afternoon, as they suffered a disappointing defeat at home to Chichester City in the Isthmian League Premier.

Coming into the match after two solid league wins, the Gulls were once again undone by their own mistakes against a resilient visitors, who took their chances when they fell to complete a league double over the Gulls, effectively reversing their positions in the in the table in the process.

It was Canvey who made the quicker start to the game, with their high press forcing the visitors into a succession of errors at the back that weren't capitalised on. They got their first big chance after just 3 minutes, with Jaxon Brown being released into the box and rounding visiting keeper Kieran Magee, but seeing his effort cleared in front of goal by a defender.
Chris Harris was proving a thorn in the side of the visitors defence, and got himself into several good positions, but either fluffed his lines with his passing or shooting when breaking into the box, seeing his best chance saved with a direct shot at Magee.

Chichester meanwhile, were reduced to hitting the Gulls on the break with long balls forward, though they had a target man in form to aim for in the shape of Jimmy Wild, and he got his first sniff at goal on 11 minutes as he headed wide following a corner whipped in from the left.

That difference in form between the strikers would prove the key on 28 minutes when the visitors took the lead against the run of play. After Harris once more scuffed a chance at goal following a set piece, the visitors lofted the ball up into the path of Wild, who did well to beat the offside trap and tap his shot past Bobby Mason to settle into the net after nicking in off the post.

Despite all their clear cut chances before however, the Gulls were level just a minute later in bizarre circumstance. More high pressing saw Magee scuff his clearance as the Canvey forwards bore down on him. His resulting ball away was headed back into touch by Ewan Sanchez, with his header looping over the backtracking goalkeeper to settle into the net from around 35 yards out - perhaps the most unconventional goal he'll ever score!

The Gulls continued to make their presence felt, but couldn't capitalise as the game approached half time.
Sanchez was close to getting his second on 39 minutes, as he recycled a semi-clearance from the box to fire a shot in anger that required a good stop from Magee to turn it over. From the resulting corner, Harris once again found space to get a header at goal, but saw his effort drift wide.

Despite the Gulls playing well in the first half however, they came out in the second very much like chalk to their earlier cheese, and their disjointed play caused a succession of errors that the visitors looking to exploit.

It would cost them dearly on 57 minutes when Chichester regained the lead. A corner into the box couldn't be cleared by the Canvey defence, with Curtis Da Costa the player to capitalise as he bundled the ball over to grab his goal.

Canvey pressed forward for an equaliser, but found their chances limited as they continued to fluff many of the basics. Matt Yates saw Canvey's best chance to draw level go begging midway through the half as he lifted a shot at the far post over the bar after a good ball in from Jamie Salmon.

The Gulls sloppy midfield play was gifting the visitors chances however, and they fired a warning on 71 minutes, as Ethan Pritchard saw an effort well saved by Mason, after being put through by Jimmy Wild.
The Gulls didn't heed that warning however, and two minutes later, Wild would make no mistake after being played through to grab his second of the game and his sides third.

It seemed like it was game over for Canvey, but they were handed a lifeline on 78 minutes. A moment of madness from the visitors captain Rob Hutchings saw him get into an altercation with Brown after a reckless challenge. The referee saw fit to give him his marching orders, with a straight red reducing his side to 10 men.

The Gulls looked to press the advantage, with Brad Wellmen using his bench to effect as they pushed forward. On 83 minutes, they got their chance to reduce the deficit when Chris Harris was brought down in the area. The referee awarded the penalty, and Jaxon Brown made no mistake from the spot to put the game at 2-3.

With 10 minutes to play, the Gulls threw what they could at their opponents, but lacked in clear cut chances as the visitors were content to hoof the ball as far back up the field as they could. Their best chance to draw level came in injury time, as Harris once again got a chance with a header in the box, but hit his effort straight into the arms of Magee.

The full time whistle compounded a disappointing afternoon for the Gulls after recent improvement, seeing them drop back to 11th in the table.
Their attention now turns to a midweek Essex Senior Cup clash away at Buckhurst Hill, before Whitehawk become the next visitor to the Steves Taxis Stadium the following Saturday.