Match Report

Canvey’s unbeaten start to the season came to an end with a disappointing 3-1 defeat at Arlesey Town. Despite having a great deal of possession, Canvey failed to create too many clear cut chances and were undone by some fragile defending against a physical and powerful Arlesey forward line.

Like against Wingate & Finchley, Canvey failed to produce their normal passing game and were sucked into playing a long ball game that suited Arlesey’s tall centre backs. When Canvey did get the ball down on the floor and play they looked a different proposition and posed a few problems for the Town defence. Unfortunately they didn’t do enough of this and for long periods never really troubled the Arlesey keeper Rashid.
Arlesey took the lead after just three minutes. A free kick from just inside the Canvey half was defended poorly and from a goalmouth scramble, Michael McKenzie was able to hook an effort home.

Canvey did respond well winning a string of corners but more often than not the delivery was either poor or well defended by the Arlesey defence in which Paul Stanley and Steve Dogbe both had outstanding games.
Dave Kreyling saw a header punched away by keeper Jack Rashid but Canvey failed to produce too many shots on goal in the first half. Their efforts were not helped when Steve Corbell limped off just before the half hour. He was replaced by John Stuart.

It got worse for Canvey just before half time when Sam Baldock broke clear of the offside trap and thumped a low shot beyond Ricky Wiseman.
Canvey now found themselves 2-0 down at half time and with a real mountain to climb to get back into the contest.

To their credit they battled away well and started the second half as a much more attacking force. Craig Davidson tested the keeper with a low drive and then Rashid looked far from comfortable when he spilled a powerful drive from Nicky Rugg. Unfortunately nobody could get on the end of the follow up.

Unfortunately Canvey’s defence still seemed to be at sixes and sevens at times and Baldock was able to break through again on 69 minutes and finish beyond Wiseman to virtually seal the game for Arlesey.
Canvey responded with Dave Kreyling’s powerful header being finger-tipped round the post by Rashid. Nicky Rugg who had a hardworking game alongside Leon Gordon up front then beat his marker but shot too high as Canvey looked for a consolation goal.

They managed to find this seven minutes from time. Craig Davidson cut in from the left but was upended in the box. Kevin Dobinson stepped up to take the penalty and slammed it high into the net giving the keeper no chance.

Canvey tried to use this as a springboard to better things but it was too little too late. Leon Gordon dragged an effort wide but unfortunately despite giving his all for the entire game both he and Nicky Rugg were let down by a lack of real service from midfield.

So a disappointing 3-1 defeat but Canvey go into Monday’s game with a Tilbury side who have conceded 8 goals from 2 matches in the league already, still in good heart.

This season will be a learning experience for many of the youngsters and they will have learnt a few valuable lessons from today’s game.

Yellow’s Man of the Match:

Nicky Rugg: Was let down by poor service but never gave up.

Match report by David Powell.