Manager Andy Drury was full of praise for his side on Saturday evening after watching them secure all 3 points thanks to an own goal on the hour mark.

Invicta had failed to pick up a solitary point in our last 2 visits to Canvey Island since their return to the Isthmian Premier Division in 2022, while a defeat at Concord Rangers in September 2023 making it a return of 0/3 on the island, but Saturday’s result mirrored Invicta’s win at the Alcaline Stadium back in March, also settled by a header from a set piece around the hour mark.

With Marvel Ekpiteta suspended following his dismissal against Hashtag United, Drury recalled young defender Joel Odeniran from his loan spell at Herne Bay, slotting him into the defence as the only change to the squad from the previous week.

Invicta kicked off the afternoon wearing our away red and white stripes while attacking the large terracing on the north side of the Steves Taxis Stadium. Dean Rance fed a ball through the defence that narrowly evaded Khale Da Costa while Matthias Fanimo has the first effort of the afternoon to force a simple save from there goalkeeper inside 3 minutes. The first real chance of the afternoon fell to Dan Smith just after the 4 minute mark after Bobby Mason failed to collect a crowd from Da Costa under pressure form Amadou Kassaraté, Smith reacting quickly but poking the loose ball over the crossbar from close range.

Smith’s next chance saw him denied by Mason in the 10th minute, Fanimo leaving his fullback on the floor as he drove inside and crossed towards the back post for Invicta’s number 9, forcing Mason to scramble across his goal-line to push the ball around the post. From the corner, Da Costa volleyed over before volleying into a defender a few minutes later from a knock down.

Canvey had the cane to punish Invicta in the 15th minute with a counter down the right side, a ball across the face of goal thundered into the underside of the crossbar by left back Tobi Tinubu from inches out. Invicta broke away with Kassaraté driving to the byline and cutting a cross back for Da Costa to head goal-bound, Canvey defender Sonny Hart almost accidentally deflecting the ball over with his head just a yard from the goal-line.

Canvey went close to opening the scoring with another cross from their right, Fanimo blocking a first effort while prone on the grass before Odeniran cleared off the line to deny the host the lead.

Fanimo forced another save from Mason on 36 minutes as he continued to trouble Tinubu, coming inside and firing a low effort at the goalkeeper, but the first half would end goalless.

With Inivcta now attacking up a slight hill at they attacked the south end of the stadium in the second half, Jack Jebb forced a good stop 5 minutes after the restart as he hit an effort from 30 yards. Jebb then played a pivotal role in the game’s deciding moment on the hour mark. Firstly linking with Da Costa on the left, the winger drawing a foul from Matthew Yates. Jebb delivered an in-swinging delivery towards Kassaraté at the near post but it was the head of Bradley Sach who got there first, turning the ball beyond his own goalkeeper.

Now chasing the game, Canvey began to put Invicta under pressure although Henly’s gloves remained clean. It wasn’t until the final 5 minutes that the Invicta keeper was forced into a save, getting a strong hand to a head to push it over the bar, but a foul was given for a push on Odeniran.

One final chance fell the way of the hosts in injury time as a long ball reached Charlie Harris at the back post but if the forward did get a head onto it he was unable to turn it on target.

With the sun low behind the stands and the players shadows Lon on the pitch, the referee called an end to proceedings with almost 100 minutes on the clock, Invicta bringing 3 points back across the Dartford crossing to make it 3 games unbeaten heading into next week’s trip to Barton Rovers in the FA Trophy.