Witham Town 1–3 Canvey Island

(Adeniji 27’: Sykes 8’, 20’, 69’)

From Spa Road

Isthmian North

GEORGE Sykes’s hat-trick was enough for Canvey Island to beat Witham Town and remain top of the Isthmian North.

Danny Heale’s men had been comprehensively beaten in the FA Trophy last Saturday, with a response needed at Spa Road.

And they took the lead inside 10 minutes. Mitchell Gilbey’s strike was parried but only into the danger zone. Sykes was on hand to score with ease.

Gilbey was denied a second by former Gulls stopper Lewis Moore, but Canvey were to double their lead shortly afterwards.

Jake Pitty’s ball into Sykes was good, but the striker’s turn was better as he made space and finished coolly with 20 minutes on the clock.

But Witham pulled a goal back out of nothing. Another former player in Ozzy Adeniji got on the end of a cross to halve the deficit.

Sykes had a chance for his third 10 minutes after the break, only for an excellent block to deny him.

While away keeper Henry Newcombe sprung into action to keep Pat Ahern from equalising against the run of play.

But Sykes was to take home the match ball. Twenty minutes from time, the striker powered his third into the corner of the goal to make the match safe.

Canvey Island: Newcombe, Pitty, Dumas, Craddock, Warren (Norman 80’), Sheehan, Merrifield, Collins, Sykes, Gilbey (Walker 74’), Charles (Nesbitt 66’)