Canvey Island 0-2 Kingstonian

Solid defensive performances haven't been too prevalent for Ks since their return to the Ryman Premier, but one of their back line's best recent displays proved to be the foundation for an excellent win at Canvey Island.

Although their Essex hosts had more territory and possession than Ks, they were rarely awarded a clear sight of Rob Tolfrey's goal and were continually frustrated in their attempts to break down the visitors, even after the dismissal of Jean-Sylvian Dossou. Ks, on the hand, were clinical with the chances they created, with Max Hustwick and Bobby Traynor beating James Russell to secure a 2-0 win.

Ks started the brighter of the two sides, with Gray firing wide from distance before Hustwick gave Ks the lead. Gray curled in a perfect free kick from the left, which the centre-back powerfully headed over Russell, who may have been disappointed with his attempt at the save. Ks had two good chances to extend their lead but Carl Wilson-Denis lobbed a Lee Hall through ball over the bar and Traynor scuffed an angled shot when in a good position.

The Gulls began to come into the game though and had Ks under pressure before half-time. Ashley Dumas volleyed wide, Tolfrey dashed way out of his goal to deny Jason Hallett but needed Dossou to hack clear for him and then the home side came closest of all in injury time when captain Chris Moore headed narrowly wide after Tolfrey had missed a deep corner.

Canvey kept the pressure up after the interval, with Adam Thompson, who admitted after the game what many had suspected, that he is more comfortable in a defensive role than in midfield, clearing a Rob King shot off the line. On 53 minutes though, a mistake sapped all of the home side's momentum and allowed Ks to go two to the good. Steve Ward failed to control a Tolfrey goal kick and Traynor capitalised on the error, getting behind the defence and rolling the ball past the early-committing Russell.

Hall had a shot saved five minutes later but from then on it was all Canvey, as Ks sought to hold on to their lead, with King heading narrowly wide. Things got even tougher for Ks with fifteen minutes to go, when Dossou was sent off for retaliating towards John Curran after Ks won a free kick on the edge of their own box.

With just ten men, Ks could do nothing more than cling desperately on to what they had. Leon Gordon fired over and then tested Tolfrey twice, first by turning Thompson and shooting powerfully from close range and then by forcing the goalkeeper to tip a 20-yarder over. Matt Game came close after Curran's miskick had stayed in play, Isa Hussain slipped at the far post after a Dumas cross and then Tolfrey made another good save, this time from Danny Heale.

The last chance of the game fell to Hussain but he fired over and Ks held on for a clean sheet and three hard-earned points.