Canvey Island continued their pre season campaign with a 1-1 draw against Ryman Premier East Thurrock United at Rookery Hill. Against higher league opposition the Gulls played some excellent attacking football especially in the first half with Danny Curran and Ian Luck both impressing up front.

It was Canvey who enjoyed the majority of possession in the first half with Ryan Edgar and Gabriel Fanibuyan bossing the midfield and Craig Davidson playing a holding role just in front of the back three having an excellent game.

It was Edgar who provided the first chance of the game shooting just wide from outside the area after doing well to make himself some room.

Both Curran and Luck were looking extremely lively with Luck’s pace and strength often troubling the Rocks’ rearguard.

It was Danny Curran who opened the scoring on 30 minutes with a goal of real quality. After latching on to a through ball Curran showed great awareness and composure to dummy both defender and goalkeeper and coolly place the ball into the net. It was a finish of the highest quality.

Canvey were up and running now and laid siege to the East Thurrock goal. They did have a scare on 33 minutes when Ricky Wiseman rushed out to block the forward who had a clear sight of goal. By now though it was Canvey who were playing the better attacking football.

Ryan Edgar nearly made it two on 36 minutes when after some great build up play involving Fanibuyan, Curran and Luck, he fired a shot across the keeper which scraped the post as it went wide.

Moments later and some great tenacity by Daniel Francis and Luck to win the ball back down the right flank saw Luck fire in a low drive that the keeper blocked well with his feet.

At half time Canvey would definitely have been more than happy with their first half efforts.

East Thurrock decided to change virtually their entire starting line up and with Canvey making several changes the game became rather disjointed as a result.

It was the Gulls though who still looked the better team with Ian Luck firing a speculative effort just over the bar.

John Batch gave all of his squad a run out making 11 substitutions in the second half with Mel Capleton, Jon Stuart, Chris Bourne, Clydie Roberts and Nicky Rugg coming on at half time.

It was another substitute, Mitchell Lowes who nearly helped provide Canvey with a second goal playing in a superb cross that nearly picked out Rugg at the far post. A Rocks defender just managed to get to the ball first to deny the Gulls’ striker a scoring opportunity.

As Canvey made more substitutions this disrupted their rhythm a little. East Thurrock were able to grab an equaliser with Danny Harris firing home at the far post beyond Capleton with 15 minutes remaining.

The game fizzled out after this with neither side really testing the goalkeepers. Canvey now face Tiptree of the Ridgeons League on Saturday hoping to build on a positive performance.

Yellow’s Man of the Match:
Danny Curran: Showed great confidence and awareness to score a fine goal. He was involved in some excellent build up play at times.

Match Report by David Powell