Match Report

Canvey gained a well deserved point from a 2-2 draw at home to Bury Town in a spirited fight back that saw them come back from 2-0 down to gain the draw. They will feel they did enough to win the game and had chances been taken and luck been on their side, they may well have picked up the three points on offer.

Canvey started brightly and were on the offensive right from the off. Bury though looked exceptionally dangerous on the counter attack and forward Steve Bugg was often at the heart of their best moves teasing the Canvey defence with his movement and dribbling skills.

It was from a counter attack that Bury took the lead on 16 minutes against the run of play. A miss placed pass saw the Canvey defence out numbered and the ball was eventually worked out to Craig Parker whose low angled drive from the left hand corner of the box beat Ricky Wiseman.
Canvey to their credit responded positively. A surging run from Ryan Edgar saw him play in a great ball that just eluded the on rushing Jay Curran.

Edgar who had been fairly quiet in the opening 20 minutes sprung into life again playing a great pass out to the right for Clyde Roberts to run on to. Roberts’s cut back was inch perfect for Curran but he somehow managed to place his shot wide with the goal gaping.
As Canvey’s pressure began to increase, the Bury defence began to give away plenty of free kicks in dangerous positions. In the space of two minutes, Steve Corbell fired in two efforts that were just off target.

Bury with Bugg remaining a lively presence were still a threat on the counter attack. Owen Paynter fired in an effort just wide but it was Canvey who posed the greater attacking threat.
Dave Kreyling was unlucky not to score from a corner when he latched on to a knockdown but could only poke his effort from a few yards out straight at keeper Carl Goody.
Jay Curran was booked just before half time and Canvey went in at the interval feeling slightly aggrieved at being a goal down.

They started the second half positively winning a corner with their first attack. Like so many games this season though, the Canvey defence looked very leaky and on 57 minutes Bury increased their lead. Once again poor marking allowed Bury to move the ball from the right and find Owen Paynter in the middle who applied a simple finish.
Canvey at this stage looked a beaten side. Wiseman was nearly caught out by a lobbed effort and then Bugg lashed an effort just over when unmarked at the far post as Bury looked for a third to kill the game off.

Canvey got a stroke of luck on 59 minutes though when a long ball eluded the Bury defence and found Leon Gordon on the right hand side of the box. He outpaced the defender and rolled the ball past the keeper into the bottom corner for an expert finish. This goal gave Canvey renewed impetus and spirit and with Lee Jay coming on for Steve Corbell they laid siege to the Bury goal.

The breakthrough came when Jay Curran with his back to goal was tugged back in the box. The referee initially gave a free kick but after some protestations from the Canvey players and then consulting his linesman, the referee pointed to the spot.

After a brief delay, Kevin Dobinson stepped up and smashed his penalty home to level the scores up at 2-2. With 15 minutes left and the impetus very much with Canvey they looked the most likely to grab a winner. Clyde Roberts produced another great run down the right but his excellent cross was headed over by Curran. Soon after a great through ball saw Lee Jay burst through but the keeper saved well with his legs.

As tempers got frayed both Dobinson and Leon Gordon were booked. Soon after another great move saw Gordon fire over at the far post. With minutes remaining John Batch sent on Nicky Rugg for Roberts in an attempt to win the game. Moments later and Bury were down to ten men.
Dobinson’s charge towards the penalty area was halted by a crude challenge by Gareth Jones and after previously being booked the referee had no option but to send the player off for a second yellow card.

Canvey cranked up the pressure and might have won the game in the dying moments when Nicky Rugg latched on to a long pass. His lob beat the keeper but sailed just too high and wide much to the anguish of the majority of the crowd of 355.

So Canvey had to settle for a draw but will be delighted with the spirit they showed in coming back from 2-0 down against one of the division’s better sides.

Oysterfleet Man of the Match:

JAY CURRAN :  Ran with pace and intent for 90 minutes, did everything but score.

Match Report by David Powell