Canvey leap frogged one place above the Harriers following this result. They'd achieved that in the very first minute of the game when Dwaine Clarke powered in a shot on the turn from the edge of the area.
With time running out at the end of the first half the Islanders doubled their lead with a goal from Jason Hallett that left the much depleted Harriers side facing an uphill task to get something from this game. Without three key players and two youth team lads in their place it was never going to be an easy game for us and so it proved. The only bright spot was another goal for Luke Reynolds, his third in just five games that bodes well for next season, if he's still with us.
Tom Byrne and Ash Walker were the two rookies that joined the squad yesterday and it was Walker who was chosen to start the game with the diminutive Byrne on the bench. Mike McGrath started his first game for us in place of Johnny Mullins while Walker replaced Daryl Burgess who was serving the second part of his two game ban. A turn up for the books was the disappearance of Simon Russell from the squad and no mention of any injury that he may have picked up.
Following the opening goal for Canvey the Harriers tried valiantly to get back into the game but on a poor pitch it was always going to be hard. Reynolds and McGrath both managed to get headers in as we battled to get back on top but the closest we came was a chance taken by Gavin Hurren when he met a cross from Jonny Harkness but saw his header well saved by the Canvey keeper.
With the time ticking away to half time and a chance for Mark Yates to have a word with his troops we came up against a killer blow. Canvey went further into the lead with just seconds remaining.
As with the majority of goals against us it came from a corner when Jeff Minton sent the kick over to be met at the far post by Hallett who blasted the ball into the roof of the net.