Match Report

Canvey Island re-ignited their play off aspirations with a superb 2-0 victory over second placed AFC Sudbury at King’s Marsh Stadium.

After suffering a narrow 1-0 defeat to Bury Town at the weekend it was imperative that Gulls got a positive result to put their promotion dreams back on track and they did just that with a solid, hardworking display limiting Sudbury to very few goal-scoring opportunities.

Canvey edged a rather scrappy first half in which both sides created very few clear cut chances.
Sudbury started brightly but found Canvey’s defence of Craig Davidson, George Blewer, Colin Wall and Andrew West in fine form.

Darren Bethell tested James Russell in the Canvey goal with a shot from 20 yards that the on loan keeper saved comfortably and Stuart Boardley sent a couple of dangerous crosses into the box but Sudbury were struggling to create anything of any real note.

It was Canvey who created the first real opportunity on goal when Steve Corbell curled a free kick just wide of the goal on 16 minutes after Gabriel Fanibuyan was fouled just outside the penalty area.

Fanibuyan was then in the heart of the action once again 5 minutes later when he cut the ball back to Jay Curran in the penalty area but Canvey’s top scorer lifted his shot over the bar.

The best chance of the half fell Canvey’s way on 38 minutes. Nicky Rugg decided to try his luck from 20 yards and his shot cannoned back off of the post and fell to Fanibuyan who could only fire the rebound wide from the edge of the penalty area.

Sudbury responded with a shooting opportunity just before half time. Matty Clements’ cross was only partially cleared and fell to Boardley who scuffed a weak effort wide of the goal.

A disappointing first half came to a close shortly afterwards and the second period began with Sudbury attacking the Canvey goal.

Still they couldn’t find a way through and with Richard Halle adding steel in the midfield, Canvey’s confidence visibly grew as the half wore on.

David Head got on the end of Boardley’s right wing corner on 58 minutes but could only head his effort high over the crossbar.

The hardworking Nicky Rugg did superbly 4 minutes later to hold the ball up and play a pass to Fanibuyan who could only drag his shot wide from the edge of the area.

Sudbury continued to press in search of a goal and although Colin Wall was booked for tripping Bethell on 64 minutes, this failed to faze the tall defender who had another outstanding game.

As Sudbury began to grow frustrated with their inability to test James Russell in the Canvey goal, Gulls came into the game more as an attacking force and came within a whisker of taking the lead on 72 minutes.

Leon Gordon’s cross from the left was deflected into the path of Andrew West who was unmarked at the far post. His first shot was saved well at his near post by Sudbury keeper Dean Neil but the rebound fell to West who saw his powerful drive come back off of the crossbar and cleared to safety.

It was a let off for Sudbury but their luck barely lasted 5 minutes as Canvey took a deserved lead.
Fanibuyan was fouled on the edge of the area by Paul Smith and from the resulting free kick Corbell fired a low shot through the wall and through the grasp of Dean Neil who seemed to have the shot covered. The shot seemed to have taken a couple of deflections on its’ way into the net deceiving Neil in the process.

Sudbury pushed forward desperately in search of an equaliser but as a result left gaps at the back.
On 78 minutes, Curran broke down the right but Neil did well to block the striker’s effort at his near post with his legs.

Canvey continued to defend resiliently as Sudbury started to show more urgency in their attacks. Ian Luck replaced Curran on 83 minutes and his pace started to cause real problems for the Sudbury rearguard.

As injury time approached it was Canvey who finished strongly. Rugg fired a shot from the left hand side of the area just wide of the post and then moments later Neil produced a brilliant reaction save to turn away Luck’s shot from close range after he latched on to Leon Gordon’s partially cleared corner.

In the third minute of injury time Canvey sealed the game. Rugg played the ball in from the left to Luck who calmly poked the ball home from close range at the near post to send the travelling Yellow Army ecstatic.

The final whistle blew soon after to confirm a fine victory against a Sudbury side who have lost just twice at home all season in the league.

This win moves Canvey up into 6th place and they’re now only outside the play off places on goal difference.

They are next in action on Saturday when struggling Wivenhoe Town come to Park Lane.

Yellow’s Man of the Match:

GEORGE BLEWER:  A fine performance at right back. Didn’t put a foot wrong all evening.

Match Report by David Powell.