Canvey Island 1-2 Havant & Waterlooville

(Sykes 12’: Lewis 44’, 69’)

From the Frost Financial Stadium

Ryman Premier League

CANVEY Island pushed title-hopefuls Havant & Waterlooville all the way but came away pointless as their battle against relegation continues.

The Gulls had taken a 12th minute lead through George Sykes but a Theo Lewis double condemned Danny Heale’s side to a 2-1 defeat.

Havant almost took the lead inside 60 seconds, but alert goalkeeping from Conor Gough stopped Alfie Rutherford from finding the net.

Mitch Gilbey had an equally good chance up the other end but his shot was superbly blocked on the line by defender Lee Molyneaux.

But eight minutes later they were in front. A deep cross was perfect for Sykes, who had drifted to the far post and he steered his header home.

The Gulls were looking to consolidate that lead but handed Havant a chance to draw level after 24 minutes.

John Mbamarah pushed James Hayter in the penalty area but Gough guess correctly and pushed away the same man’s spot kick.

Gough again frustrated Hayter, with Sykes halted by Ryan Young up the other end.

But Gough was the busier stopper, keeping Lewis at bay with stop low down to his right, although it wasn’t to last.

Three minutes before half-time, Lewis peeled away from his marker and headed into the net.

The second-half was a tighter affair, with both goalkeeper’s having more of a watching brief than in the first 45 minutes.

And it took a moment of magic to separate the sides.

Twenty minutes from time, Lewis took aim from long range and powered an unstoppable drive past the despairing Gough.

The Gulls could have nicked a point late on, but two home substitutes couldn’t combine for the leveller.

Harrison Chatting’s low shot almost dropped for Callum Ibe but he failed to make contact.

Canvey Island: Gough, Pitty, Dumas, Merrifield, Mbamarah, Sheehan, Gilbey (Chatting 75’), Blackman, Sykes, Thomas (Ibe 75’), Agyakwa