Canvey Island vs Brentwood Town

Canvey started the brighter of the two sides. Ross Wall headed wide from a corner inside four minutes, Freddie Price fired over from the edge of the box soon after, and Michael Finneran saw his looping header claimed by Brentwood goalkeeper Harry Seaden.

But the game turned on a counter-attack from a Canvey corner in the 16th minute. Brentwood cleared and broke swiftly, finding former Canvey man Bradley Sach, who placed his finish into the top corner beyond David Hughes.

Two minutes later it was 2-0. Malachi Linton drove a dangerous ball across the six-yard box and Berry met it with a diving header. Sach struck again in the 26th minute, collecting Linton's pass and finding the bottom corner, before Linton got on the scoresheet himself in the 39th minute, rifling into the top corner from close range.

Half-time: Canvey Island 0-4 Brentwood Town

Canvey emerged for the second half with renewed purpose. Freddie Price pulled one back in the 51st minute, finding the bottom corner from the edge of the box. Three minutes later, left-back Louie Arrowsmith was brought down in the area to win a penalty, and Conor Hubble stepped up to smash the spot-kick into the top corner. Ross Wall made it 3-4 in the 64th minute, meeting Hubble's cross with a header into the bottom corner at the far post.

Brentwood steadied themselves. Hughes saved well from Berry's free-kick and from a Gibbs header from a corner. Hudson fizzed a shot wide, and former Canvey man Scott Kashket sent a header wide from a corner in the dying minutes. The equaliser never came.

Sach's 16th-minute opener — a clinical counter-attack finish against his former employers — shattered Canvey's early momentum. Before that goal, the Gulls had created three clear chances in the opening 10 minutes but failed to convert; after it, they conceded three more in 23 minutes and trailed 4-0 at half-time.

Bradley Sach (Brentwood Town) — Two goals against his former club, the opener coming from a lightning counter that completely changed the complexion of the match. His movement and finishing were a constant threat all afternoon.

Malachi Linton (Brentwood Town) — A goal and two assists. Linton's dribbling and crossing caused Canvey problems all afternoon. His run and cross set up Berry's diving header, his pass teed up Sach's second, and his own goal was a ferocious strike into the top corner.

Freddie Price (Canvey Island) — Scored Canvey's first goal in the 51st minute to ignite the second-half fightback and was involved in much of the Gulls' best attacking work.

Conor Hubble (Canvey Island) — Converted the penalty that made it 2-4 and delivered the cross for Wall's goal, playing a key role in Canvey's midfield revival.

Player of the Match: Bradley Sach (Brentwood Town)

The provider data shows a 4-0 half-time lead that tells the real story: Brentwood's clinical finishing in the first period was unsustainable, but the damage was done. Canvey's three second-half goals in 14 minutes suggest they dominated the second 45 minutes, but the contest was a game of two distinct halves — Brentwood ruthlessly efficient in the first, Canvey dominant but unable to find a fourth in the second. The fixture's historical average of 3.50 goals per game (prior to this match) was comfortably exceeded in a seven-goal thriller.

This was Canvey Island's fifth pre-season friendly of summer 2026 under manager Garry Kimble, as both sides prepare for the Isthmian League Premier Division season. The defensive frailties on display in the first half will be a concern for the Gulls, though the second-half response offers encouragement. Brentwood's first away test of pre-season provided a useful workout, particularly the experience of defending a three-goal lead under pressure in the final 25 minutes.

A game of two halves and a tale of two finishes. Brentwood's first-half ruthlessness was the difference, with Sach's double against his former club the defining narrative. Canvey's spirited second-half fightback suggests they have character, but the 4-0 half-time deficit will worry Kimble as the season opener approaches. The neutrals, however, were treated to seven goals and a stirring fightback that deserved a share of the spoils.