Canvey Island 1-4 Wingate & Finchley

(Green 30’: Pattie 22’, Beckles-Richards 41’, 65’, 76’)

From the Frost Financial Stadium

Ryman Premier League

CANVEY Island’s wretched recent run showed no sign of easing up as they were well beaten by Wingate & Finchley.

The Gulls had pulled level, having fallen behind, and Dominic Green scored a brilliant effort on his debut to the home fans’ delight.

But they were unable to hold on as a sublime hat-trick from Reece Beckles-Richards saw their chances of a positive result go up in smoke.

Canvey started well, with Mitchell Gilbey sending a trademark long-range effort at goal which was well turned aside by Shane Gore.

Gilbey’s free-kick was then comfortably saved as the pressure intensified although it was Wingate that opened the scoring.

Midway through the half, a corner was headed back into the danger zone by Ahmed Rifat and Ben Pattie smashed home a half volley in unstoppable fashion.

The Gulls almost hit straight back through Steve Sheehan but former Grays Athletic man Luke Ifill got back to head off the line.

But there was nothing that could be done to stop Green’s equaliser. George Sykes made space brilliantly, cut back and Green thumped home emphatically.

Gilbey saw a header saved in the closing stages of the half, but it was the away side that ended the half on top.

A long ball released Beckles-Richards and he chipped superbly over the jump of goalkeeper Lewis Moore.

Martin Tuohy headed narrowly wide in the early stages of the second-half but the lead was to be extended before long.

Beckles-Richards made space once again but there was a huge touch of fortune to the finish as it nicked off Ashley Dumas and flew beyond the keeper.

And the game was well and truly put beyond the hosts when the striker completed his treble with a powerful finish high into the top corner 20 yards out.

George Sykes and Junior Luke had efforts which threatened to halve the scoreline but it wasn’t forthcoming.

Canvey Island: Moore, Lampe, Dumas, Pitty, O’Rawe, Sheehan, Gilbey (Luke), Lawson, Sykes, Tuohy, Green (Hayden-Smith)