Leatherhead 4–4 Canvey Island

From Fetcham Grove

Ryman Premier League

 

CANVEY Island grabbed two late, late goals to prevent what appeared certain defeat at Leatherhead.

Trailing 4-2 with seven minutes remaining, finishes from substitute Marlon Agyakwa and defender John Easterford ensured a third straight league draw for Canvey, all of which have had late drama.

Canvey came into the match still searching for their first win of the new campaign, although two draws in the last two matches against good opponents had buoyed manager Danny Heale.

Indeed the Gulls got off to a flying start against the Surrey side, as Lawrence Yiga, making his first appearance of the season after a lengthy suspension, saw his effort kept out only for Jay Curran to follow in with his first of the season.

However, the lead didn’t last long as Kiernan Mason-Hughes made Canvey pay with a neat finish after some questionable defending only minutes later.

The game had been turned on its head after 23 minutes, as Vas Karagiannis lobbed the onrushing Gulls goalkeeper Jake Larkins and, not finished for the half, the striker scored an equally spectacular goal when his 25-yard drive found the bottom corner.

Skipper Richard Halle thought he had reduced the deficit but his header was adjudged not to have crossed the line, although Martin Tuohy did net his third goal in as many league games to make it 3-2 with a coolly taken strike.

Karagiannis went from hero to villain after he was dismissed for an off the ball incident, but that didn’t help the Gulls with Phil Walsh netting from close range to restore the two-goal advantage.

But up stepped Agyakwa and Easterford to provide the most dramatic of finishes.

 

Canvey Island: Larkins, Eyong, Halle, Dumas, Pitty (Sheehan), Easterford, Curran (Adeniji), Poole, Yiga, Tuohy, Chatting (Agyakwa)