Canvey Island go down to previously winless Met Police

(Lampe 69’: Lodge 45’, Charles 81’)

From the Frost Financial Stadium

Ryman Premier League

CANVEY Island slipped to defeat against lowly Met Police as the visitors recorded a first win of term in Essex.

Canvey were battling an injury crisis and were in desperate need of points as they played catch-up in the Ryman Premier League.

Postponements and FA Cup replays mean the Gulls have fallen down the standings in recent times although they did pick up a morale-boosting three points in their last league match against Hendon.

Met Police were stranded at the foot of the table and were without a win after 11 matches.

And Canvey should have taken the lead early on in this match, with Martin Tuohy missing a golden chance early on.

George Sykes crossed for the in-form forward but he shot wide with the goal gaping.

Jack Simmons sent a lobbed attempt off target soon after, following a mix-up between goalkeeper and defence, but the goal was not coming.

Indeed, it was the visitors that had the ball in the net first but it was ruled out midway through the first-half after a foul on goalkeeper Lewis Moore.

Lee O’Leary sent a header straight at Nathan Baxter as Canvey cranked up the heat, with Tuohy almost making up for his earlier miss only for his lob to be clawed away by Baxter.

The keeper made an even better save soon after when he diving spectacularly to deny Harrison Chatting’s long range strike.

But disaster struck on the stroke of half-time. From a Gulls corner, the visitors broke at pace with Orlando Smith crossing for Dean Lodge to power past Moore.

In the second-half, Jake Reid struck wide when well placed as Met Police went searching for that all-important second goal.

But it was Canvey that got the next goal. An excellent Joey May delivery was met by a thumping header from Jack Lampe and he levelled the scores.

A fractious moment followed as Canvey keeper Moore was clattered into by Tom Hickey, although he was not booked for the offence.

Jack Simmons shot over the bar after an opening was well worked with Lee O’Leary and soon after they were made to pay for that profligacy.

A route-one ball from Tom Hickey found the run of Elliott Charles and he made no mistake.

And that was how it stayed.

Canvey Island: Moore, Lampe, Dumas, Chatting, O’Rawe, Sheehan, Lawson (May), O’Leary, Sykes (Gordon), Tuohy, Simmons (Owotwi)