Canvey Island put last weekend’s disappointing defeat at Kingstonian behind them by convincingly running riot over visitors Cray Wanderers this afternoon at the Brockwell Stadium.

Cray were forced into a change even before a ball was kicked as Dave King who had seriously injured himself during the warm-up was replaced in goal by defender Aaron Day.

Day gave a good account of himself between the sticks but the same couldn’t be said for the players in front of him who at times were guilty of some sloppy defending and provided little in terms of creativity in midfield.

Canvey on the other hand were excellent in their control of the game and confidently sprayed the ball across the width of the pitch, cutting off the supplies to Cray’s forward line.

Kevin Dobinson came in for the suspended Matt Game and was instrumental in Canvey’s dominance picking up the Man of the Match award whilst Chris Moore and Jason Hallett returned to the starting eleven in place of Steve Ward and Hussein Isa respectively.

James Russell was tested early on after 7 minutes when he was made to fully stretch to tip over a long range effort from Cray’s Liam Bellamy.

Robbie King almost got Canvey off the mark after 10 minutes as he was on the receiving end of Jay Curran’s cross. Aaron Day did well to parry King’s close range effort with one hand, which deflected off of a defender for a corner.

Frank Everett was booked on 15 minutes for a late challenge before Danny Phillips picked up Cray’s first caution two minutes later.

On 19 minutes Danny Heale from the edge of the area, flicked the ball on to Jason Hallett positioned on the six-yard line, but Hallett couldn’t keep his shot down and the ball flew narrowly over the bar.

Liam Bellamy tried an elaborate attempt at goal on 29 minutes from at least 40 yards that was only just over James Russell’s crossbar.

John Easterford came even closer still on 38 minutes when he met Alex Rhodes’ corner at the far post, but he smashed his header against the foot of the post before bouncing clear for a goal-kick.

Canvey did go ahead on 40 minutes when Danny Heale latched onto Alex Rhodes’ powerful header up-field. Heale was positioned between the out-rushing ‘Keeper and chasing defender Mark Willy, with the two colliding under pressure. The ball deflected off Willy onto the post and it was left to Heale to simply tap the loose ball home into an empty net.

Some lovely footwork from Kevin Dobinson allowed Jason Hallett through on goal on 41 minutes but Hallett curled his effort narrowly around the far post from the eighteen yard line.

On 44 minutes James Russell performed a great one handed save to prevent Cray from equalising from a narrow angle; tipping the ball around the post and allowing Canvey to remain in the lead at the break.

H/T: Canvey Island 1 - 0 Cray Wanderers

In the past Canvey have been guilty of sitting back after taking a lead into the second half, but thankfully this afternoon Canvey didn’t let up nor allow their selves to soak up any pressure from Cray. The Gulls played to put the game to bed early.

On 55 minutes Jason Hallett sprinted down the left before sending a looping cross towards the far post where Jay Curran hit a first time volley narrowly wide of the near post.

Canvey doubled their lead on 57 minutes though when Alex Rhodes’ corner was failed to be cleared effectively at the near post. The ensuing scramble was heart in your mouth time for Cray with Chris Moore having an effort blocked on the goal-line before the ball fell to Robbie King who smashed the ball into the far corner from six yards.

Cray were reduced to ten men on 63 minutes when the fiery Danny Phillips was shown his second yellow card and he trudged reluctantly to the changing room after protesting to the Referee.

Chris Moore was in on the action again on 66 minutes as he beat former Gull Joe Dolan in the air to nod Robbie King’s corner narrowly over the crossbar.

Jay Curran bagged Canvey’s third goal with a peach of an effort on 70 minutes. Curran chased down Kevin Dobinson’s threaded pass, beating Cray’s Alex Bentley to the ball before turning Bentley inside out and proceeding to fire a shot from a narrow angle into the roof of the net leaving the ‘Keeper with no chance.

That was Bentley’s last taste of the action as he was substituted immediately after by Tyrone Sterling as Cray adopted a 3 – 5 – 1 formation.

Mark Willy reduced the deficit on 73 minutes when he headed home from a left-wing cross. Jay Curran received a caution when judged to have handled on the goal-line, but as the ball crossed the line anyway he was only booked for deliberate handball rather shown red for denying a goal-scoring opportunity.

Jason Hallett was booked on 78 minutes before Richard White replaced Lewis Perkins as Cray’s second substitution.

Danny Heale nearly grabbed his second on 81 minutes after he was put through by a lovely defence splitting pass. Heale flashed his shot across the face of goal that could only be turned around the far post by Day. The resulting corner was cleared at the far post by Willy but only as far as Heale who volleyed the ball narrowly past the far post from sixteen yards.

Jason Hallett made way for Hussein Isa on 86 minutes; Isa taking up position on the left wing with Alex Rhodes being moved up into a Striker’s role to great effect.

There were two goals in the 93^rd minute ensuring the action lasted right up until the final seconds. The first came when Aaron Day sent a long ball up-field to Laurent Hamici, who rounded James Russell on the edge of the penalty area before squaring the ball to Allan McLeod making a late run into the box. Much like Danny Heale’s goal earlier in the match, McLeod simply had to poke the ball over the line to give Cray a very limited life-line.

Canvey had the last say though as from the re-start the ball made its way down the left and found Alex Rhodes in the centre, on the edge of the penalty area. Rhodes let fly a placed shot past Day into the far corner of the net restoring Canvey’s two goal advantage with the last kick of the game.

Canvey ended Cray’s run of four wins on the bounce and now travel to Bury Town this coming Tuesday in the reverse fixture from earlier in the season in which Canvey ended another unbeaten streak by defeating the Suffolk outfit 3 – 0 at the Brockwell Stadium.

F/T: Canvey Island 4 - 2 Cray Wanderers