Canvey Island squandered a 3-1 lead conceding 4 goals in the last 17 minutes in a 5-3 defeat to Croydon Athletic in a pre season friendly at Park Lane. The Ryman One South side looked beaten at 3-1 down with 20 minutes to go but a spectacular 40 yard drive from Daniel Waldron and a well taken hat-trick from Moses Ademola gave Athletic an unexpected win.

Canvey tasted first blood after just a minute when Nicky Reynolds fired home from the left hand side of the box after a good attack. Athletic though looked dangerous throughout and their pace caused plenty of problems for Canvey’s backline of George Blewer, Colin Wall and Andrew West.

After a shot struck the post on 4 minutes, Athletic took the lead on 14 minutes. Ademola latched on to a slip by Andrew West to stride through, round Mel Capleton and tap into an empty net. Croydon were looking the better side at this stage with Anthony Cooke really impressing for them with his pace and skill down the right wing.

Despite some near misses they couldn’t take the lead and Canvey began to exert some attacking pressure themselves. Reynolds nearly got on the end of a superb left wing cross from Steve Corbell whilst Michael Daly had a couple of opportunities.

It was Daniel Francis who was showing some great dribbling skills down the right wing who gave Canvey the lead two minutes before half time. He showed great tenacity and persistence to win the ball back after losing it and then surging past a defender before firing a bullet of a shot from an acute angle into the corner of the net.

It was Francis who was really starting to illuminate the game with his skill and awareness. A fine move involving him and Stuart Batch saw Francis play an exquisite through ball to Matt Reade who got through on goal but keeper Dean Rose did well to make a block and force the ball off for a corner.

Capleton was then called into action turning a shot around the post after a slip by Dave Kreyling had allowed an Athletic striker a shot on goal on 59 minutes. Reade though continued his fine goal-scoring form of recent weeks by notching his 4th goal of the pre season. Good work by Clydie Roberts saw Reade latch on to his pass in the penalty area and pick his way past several tackles to confidently place his shot beyond Rose.

This was on 64 minutes and with Francis continuing to cause havoc down the right wing, another Canvey goal looked very likely.They had reckoned without the intervention of Athletic’s number 4 Daniel Waldron. Picking up the ball from just inside the Canvey half, he was allowed to stride forward and unleash a blistering shot from nearly 35 yards out that had Capleton well beaten on 73 minutes.

It was a stunning strike and it gave Croydon renewed hope and vigour as the Canvey defence collapsed in devastating fashion. Capleton made a magnificent double save but then turned the villain of the piece on 81 minutes allowing a rather tame shot from Alasan Kahm to slip through his hands and trickle into the net.

Canvey tried to bounce back from this but despite Francis’ best promptings, Athletic had their tails up. A fourth goal seemed almost inevitable and Ademola obliged two minutes from the end outpacing the Canvey rearguard and then rounding Capleton to fire home.

There was still time for Ademola to complete a deserved hattrick. The forward showed great pace and strength to leave Dave Kreyling for dead and fire a scorching shot beyond Capleton from just outside the box.

So just like at Clacton 5 days before, Canvey had squandered a winning position although they’ll be happy with some of the attacking football they demonstrated during the evening.

Slough Town of the British Gas Business League Division One South & West are the next side to visit Park Lane in the final pre season fixture before the season starts properly the following weekend. Gulls will be looking for a much improved defensive performance from this game.

Yellow’s Man of the Match:
Daniel Francis:  Showed great dribbling skills and pace at times and scored an excellent goal.

Match Report by David Powell.