Canvey Island 1-3 Leiston

From the Prospects Stadium

Ryman Premier

 

TEN-man Canvey Island rounded off a week to forget with defeat against Leiston.

The Gulls, who were knocked out of both the FA Cup and the FA Trophy in the past 10 days, went behind after only 60 seconds to a fifth-placed Leiston side high on confidence and, despite plundering an equaliser before the break, the red card given to John Easterford just before half-time proved decisive.

Two goals in the second half were enough for the visitors to take the points, and the tone was set from kick-off, with captain Jay Curran surrendering possession to Joe Francis, and his square ball to Tom Winter flew in through Tim Brown’s legs.

It was almost 2-0 when Brown saved brilliantly from Leon Ottley-Gooch.

West Ham United’s legendary academy director Tony Carr was at the Prospects Stadium to watch his two loanees – Brown and Ben Marlow – and good work from Marlow brought the equaliser.

His cross was met by Curran, whose header brought parity.

Brown made two further saves before Easterford was sent off, having been handed a second yellow card moments before half-time.

Into the second-half, Brown again saved from Ottley-Gooch before a shanked clearance from the goalkeeper left Winter with an easy headed finish.

Canvey had penalty appeals turned down before Gareth Heath made it 3-1.

Conor Hubble hit the post for Leiston before the end of the game but there was no route back into the match for the hosts.

Canvey Island: Brown, Dumas, Easterford, Jones, Bryan-Edwards, Marlow, Curran (Osobu), Chatting, Sands (Tweddell), Agyakwa (Simmons), Kamara