Ryman League Division 1 North
06/02/2007
Canvey Island		2 v 0	Wingate & Finchley
L Jay (26), J Curran (78)		H/T: 1-0 Att: 217
Teams
1	Ricky Wiseman		1	Edward Thompson
2	Andrew West		2	Steven Badu
3	Chris Bourne		3	Guy Helman
4	Kevin Dobinson		4	Mark Gradosielski
5	Dave Kreyling		5	Billy Amarteifo
6	Clydie Roberts		6	Guy Morris (off 81)
7	Lee Jay (off 88)		7	Daniel Stanton
8	Ryan Edgar (off 81)		8	Joe O'brien
9	Jay Curran (off 83)		9	Dean Williams
10	Nicky Rugg		10	Chris West
11	Matt Reade		11	Leon Osei
Subs			Subs
12	Leon Gordon (on 88)		12	Leon Wislon
14	Ian Luck (on 83)		14	Daniel Berg (on 81)
15	Steve Corbell (on 81)		15	Hardy Pinto-Moreira
16	Colin Wall		16	-
17	Mel Capleton		17	-

Match Report

Canvey Island moved up to 3rd place in the Ryman Division One North table with a 2-0 victory over Wingate & Finchley at Park Lane. Wingate came into the game in a fine run of form after beating the likes of Sudbury and Harlow and drawing with Hornchurch in recent weeks but for much of the game, Canvey dominated and some excellent saves by Wingate keeper Ed Thompson prevented them from winning by a larger margin.

It was Canvey who were the better side in the first half, starting extremely brightly. With both Matt Reade and Chris Bourne linking up well down the left flank, they played some excellent passing football that warmed the crowd up on a freezing cold evening.

After 7 minutes, a free kick from Ryan Edgar caused panic in the box and the Wingate defence scrambled the ball away before Dave Kreyling could take advantage. Both Nicky Rugg and Jay Curran were enjoying a lively start to the game and it was Curran who tested Ed Thompson with a first time lobbed shot from the right hand corner of the area on 16 minutes. Thompson was able to tip the ball around the post for a corner. Thompson then produced a magnificent reaction save from Ryan Edgar’s shot after Rugg had laid the ball across to him in the area.

Canvey’s pressure was increasing and on 26 minutes they went in front. Edgar’s quick throw in was knocked into the path of Lee Jay who struck a low half volley from just inside the area into the bottom corner of the net. This was Jay’s 5th goal of the season and reward for a hardworking performance. With Matt Reade continuing to have a great game on the left wing, Canvey continued to dominate proceedings.

Reade floated a header just too high and wide from Jay’s free kick as the half drew to a conclusion.
After a quiet first period, Wingate came more into the game and had a spell of pressure during the second half that may well have yielded a goal but for better finishing. It was Canvey who continued to create the chances though. Curran probably should have done better, heading a corner across goal at the far post on 50 minutes.

Then another great combination between Bourne and Reade saw Reade stretch but poke his effort well wide of the target. Wingate though were beginning to show signs of coming back into the game. On 58 minutes, Leon Osei cut in from the left and unleashed a powerful shot that forced Wiseman into a scrambling save at his near post.

5 minutes later and a free kick to the back post caused the Canvey defence some problems. Billy Amarteifio flicked the ball back to Guy Morris who headed a presentable chance over. Canvey may have eased the pressure on themselves on 65 minutes when Thompson was forced to save with his feet from Nicky Rugg’s low shot.

Back came Wingate and they started a spell of pressure that Canvey did well to withstand. Both Kreyling and Kevin Dobinson were strong at the back and they needed to be as Wingate surged forward in search of an equaliser. Clydie Roberts was booked for a foul on 70 minutes and then a few minutes later Guy Helman drove a shot across goal and wide after great work by Osei. Chris West then tested Wiseman with a powerful long range volley that the Canvey keeper just about held on 76 minutes.

Canvey were under the cosh but relieved the tension with a superb breakaway goal on 78 minutes.
Nicky Rugg played a great through ball to Jay Curran who raced on to it and poked the ball past the onrushing Thompson. That goal ended Wingate’s resistance and Canvey played out the remaining 12 minutes or so quite comfortably.

The three points took Canvey above Aveley and into third place and they will look to continue their unbeaten run in the league when they play fellow promotion rivals Enfield Town on Saturday.

Oysterfleet Man of the Match:

CHRIS BOURNE:  Ran tirelessly down the left and linked up superbly with Matt Reade all game.

Match Report by David Powell