Canvey Island 1-5 Enfield Town

(Sykes 4’: Bihmoutine 42’, Neita 53’, Crook 67’(p), Wynter 82’, 83’)

From the Frost Financial Stadium

Ryman Premier League

CANVEY Island debutante Tashan Hayden-Smith saw red on his debut against former side Enfield Town as the Gulls went down 5-1 on home turf.

Canvey had not had a league game in a number of weeks and they were in for a tough ask against in-form Enfield.

But it took just four minutes for the Gulls to hit their stride. Hayden-Smith brilliantly found the run of George Sykes and the attacker did superbly to drive across the goalkeeper and into the far corner.

Ricky Gabriel shot off target for the away side, with Sykes again threatening up the other end, although a decisive moment was to follow.

Hayden-Smith, playing against his former club, was shown a straight red card for a late challenge to the home side’s dismay.

Canvey looked to hold firm, although the game was becoming fractious as the half went on. Harrison Chatting, on his 200th appearance for the club, was involved in a fracas with Scott Shulton, with both booked for their troubles.

It was end-to-end stuff as the half drew to a close, with Samir Bihmoutine and Sykes both denied by both goalkeepers.

But Bihmoutine was to strike before the half was out, doing well to drill across goalkeeper Lewis Moore and in.

Eight minutes after the break, the score-line was turned on its head. A cross was played into ex-Arsenal academy product Nigel Neita and he headed into the top corner.

And it got worse for manager Danny Heale when a loose ball by Ashley Dumas sold Steve Sheehan short and he conceded a penalty.

Billy Crook tucked home from 12 yards to make it 3-1 as Enfield started to turn on the style.

Dernell Wynter added a fourth and fifth in quick succession as the match came to a close.

Canvey Island: Moore, Pitty, Dumas, Morgan (Simmons), Lampe, Sheehan, Lawson, O’Leary (May), Sykes, Hayden-Smith, Chatting