Canvey Island 1-0 VCD Athletic

From the Prospects Stadium

Ryman Premier

JOHN Sands came to Canvey's rescue to head home a late winner to end the resistance of visiting keeper Nick Blue.

Danny Heale handed a first start to Sierra Leone international Ishmail Kamara, since he joined on dual-registration from Bishop’s Stortford, and it was Kamara who almost opened the scoring, his shot blocked on the line with only five minutes on the clock.

VCD keeper Blue was in fine fettle and denied Harrison Chatting twice, Sands twice, Victor Osobu and Kamara in the first 45 minutes.

However, as the match wore on the visitors worked their way into the match and Danzelle St Louis-Hamilton had to be at his best to keep out James Duckworth.

The winning goal came with just over 10 minutes remaining, after good work from Osobu saw a ball swung in and Sands, who had pulled out wide himself, sent a header across Blue and into the far corner.

VCD had a chance at the death – in the fifth minute of injury time a free-kick was only partially cleared and Ahmed Deen scuffed wide when unmarked at the edge of the box.

Canvey: St Louis-Hamilton, Bryan-Edwards, Dumas, Jones, Bartley, Easterford, Agyakwa (Thomas), Chatting (Dobinson), Kamara, Sands (Barlow), Osobu