Horsham's brief 100% record at Gorings Mead was ended by a well organised Canvey Island whose own unbeaten start continues after Craig Davidson's late penalty secured their second successive away win on a sunny afternoon in West Sussex.

Horsham recorded a league double over the Essex club last season but both sides would have fancied their chances going in to this game, with Canvey having pulled off an excellent 2-1 win at Sutton United during the week and the Hornets defending clean sheets in both matches played so far at their new 'home'. However, injuries to Gary Charman and Jack Page called for a reshuffle to John Maggs' side with debut making James Nicholls slotting in at full-back and Pat Harding given his first start for the club. But Maggs will point to a disastrous second half showing from his players, rather than missing personnel, for this second defeat of the season. 

The Hornets actually began the game in lively fashion, clearly determined to bounce back from the disappointment of conceding a late equaliser that saw them surrender two points to Tonbridge Angels in midweek and created two early chances. Ben Andrews’ shot ricocheted off of Chris Moore, after a smart ball from Claude Seanla found him lurking on the penalty spot, and then Seanla capitalised on some poor defending from the Islanders as Ben Patten misjudged the bounce of the ball to allow Seanla a sight of goal but his shot from the edge of the box crashed against the upright and bounced away harmlessly for a goal kick.

Alex Haddow, making his 50th appearance for the club, then delivered a high cross after rescuing the ball from a tricky situation that had seen Mark Knee and Sam Page make a mess of a free kick deep in their own half.  The cross was cleverly brought down by Harding and fell to Andrews whose shot would have surely broken the deadlock had it not been for Patten who charged down the striker's shot and turned it behind for a corner.

However it was Canvey who took the lead against the run of play when a free kick from substitute Richard Halle took a deflection in the box and Horsham goalkeeper Rob Tolfrey, already committed, was unable to prevent the ball from hitting the back of the net.

Horsham were quick to reply, though, when Lee Carney floated in a high ball from a free kick on the edge of the box that found Andrews at the far post and the big striker claimed home his first competitive goal in the green and amber jersey, bundling the ball past James Russell in the Canvey goal to ensure that the teams would begin the second half as they had the first, on level terms.

H/T Horsham 1 – 1 Canvey Island

The second half proved to be a frustrating affair for the home supporters as Horsham failed to register a single shot on goal while Canvey's determination to find the winning goal saw them dominate proceedings.

Tolfrey saved well from a shot by James Rowe, that zipped through Page's legs from the edge of the area, and the home 'keeper was called into action again when he produced a low save to keep out Gregg Cohen’s bending free-kick. However it was Canvey Island’s front men who were to blame for not regaining their team's lead when Rowe's ball across the box was smashed wide by Leon Gordon from just six yards.

Cohen then showed fantastic dribbling ability by brushing aside three Horsham players to create a shot on goal but it was a disappointing end to a promising move as he fired high and wide over the goal. The visitors seemed destined not to find a way past Tolfrey for a second time until 17 year old substitute Adam Hutchings pulled down Rowe in the penalty area and Canvey skipper Davidson showed a cool head in the late August sunshine by stepping up and passing the ball into the bottom right hand corner of the goal, sending Tolfrey the wrong way.

Rowe continued to supply Gordon with chances and the number nine's sweet right footed shot looked like adding a third for the Islanders until Tolfrey stretched full-length to prevent  the ball from crashing into the top right hand corner of the net.

NEXT MATCH: v Hastings United (a) Monday 31st August ko 3pm