Canvey Island 1-1 Lewes

From the Prospects Stadium

Ryman Premier League

 

JOHN Easterford scored a last-gasp equaliser…and was then sent off as Canvey Island snatched a point against Lewes.

The Canvey skipper popped up to head home as the game ticked into injury time to hand the Gulls their third consecutive 1-1 draw and extend their unbeaten run to eight matches.

In fact, Lewes also took the lead at the end of the first-half through Elliott Romain…only for Lewes to see him sent off in the second half.

Canvey handed a debut to 18-year-old goalkeeper Dimitar Mitov, who joined from Championship side Charlton Athletic in the week, although he had a fairly uneventful first-half.

It was the home side that started the brighter, with Enoch Showunmi powering his way into the penalty area twice, only to see his efforts saved by Brandon Hall.

Lewes’ first clear-cut chance came when Matt Crabb connected sweetly with a half-volley only to see it crash off Mitov’s post.

The away side were well on top come the end of the half and, after Josh Banton escaped a second yellow card for a late tackle, it was no surprise when they took the lead.

The goal came on the stroke of half-time after a loose ball wasn’t cleared in the box, allowing Romain to crash home.

Lewes were brought back down to earth with a bump a the start of the second half, when Romain was dismissed for an alleged elbow on Mike Jones.

Manager Danny Heale reverted to a back three, with Kevin Dobinson replacing Dave Collis and it bore fruit almost immediately.

George Sykes shot against the post with 10 minutes to go, with Easterford’s follow-up effort cleared off the line.

The equaliser came a minute from time, when Easterford nodded home after his initial effort was blocked.

But the centre-back, who recently became a father for the first time, was not finished there – as he was sent off for fouling Calum Wilcock as he broke forward.

The free-kick went inches wide of the post and the game ended all square.

 

Canvey Island: Mitov, Collis (Dobinson), Carter, Jones, Banton, Easterford, Sykes, Chatting (Barlow), Showunmi (Agyakwa), Curran, Simmons