Match Report

A goal five minutes from the end of extra time by Leon Gordon gave Canvey Island a 3-2 victory over AFC Sudbury in a dramatic Ryman One North play off semi final at the King’s Marsh Stadium.

Canvey will now play Redbridge in the final at their Oakside ground on Saturday to decide who wins promotion to the Ryman Premier League.

The game was played in heavy rain that lasted the entire duration of the match and as a result left much standing water and large puddles on the pitch. Despite the boggy conditions, both teams battled hard and produced an exhilarating game for the 437 spectators who had braved the wet weather and created a superb atmosphere.

Backed by a highly vociferous Yellow Army, Canvey started brightly. Richard Halle headed off target just three minutes into the game after getting on the end of Craig Davidson’s left wing free kick.

Sudbury gradually settled though and began to win more of the possession. Top scorer James Rowe threatened up front but Canvey’s defence of Halle, Davidson, Colin Wall and Andrew West were well organised and Mel Capleton wasn’t tested in the Canvey goal.

As the rain started to make conditions difficult, Canvey took the lead on 21 minutes with Ian Luck latching on to a defensive error. Kevin Hughes attempted a back pass but Luck used his pace to reach the ball before keeper Nathan Munson down the left flank, round him and then slide the ball home from a tight angle.

Nicky Rugg had already suffered a hefty challenge in the opening 15 minutes by the left touch-line and eventually he was forced off injured on 23 minutes with Steve Corbell replacing him.

Sudbury responded by attacking the Canvey goal and Gareth Heath headed an effort off target on 27 minutes from Rowe’s left wing cross.

Despite a number of corners and free kicks in good positions, Sudbury were still not testing Capleton but they got some luck on 38 minutes when Wall was adjudged to have brought down Rowe just inside the box. Rowe stepped up to take the resulting penalty and fired the ball into the top right corner sending Capleton the wrong way to level the score.

The goal seemed to buoy Sudbury and they ended the half positively winning a number of free kicks in good positions. Stuart Boardley curled a free kick from near the edge of the area just too high and wide on 41 minutes and the half eventually came to a close after nearly 8 minutes of stoppage time after Rowe had to receive treatment for an arm injury.

As the second half started, the rain worsened leaving numerous puddles over the pitch. The rain soaked pitch made any good football difficult to play but both sides continued to battle and play good attacking football.

The half opened with both sides creating chances. In the opening minute of the half, Boardley latched on to some slight indecision in the Canvey defence to break on to a through pass but with just Capleton to beat he fired waywardly off target.

Moments later, Luck got through down the left hand side of the penalty area for Canvey but could only fire his shot straight at Munson who held the ball at the second attempt.

On 55 minutes, The Gulls were in front again. A Davidson free kick was initially cleared but the Canvey skipper received the ball again on the left wing and played in a fine cross that found the unmarked Leon Gordon who headed home beyond Munson.

Moments later, a misplaced pass by Matt Clements was exploited by Canvey with the ball being worked to Ryan Edgar who fired just wide from the edge of the area.

Canvey had a scare soon after when Hughes’ pass eluded the Canvey defence and found Rowe unmarked in the penalty area. Capleton did well though to smother his shot at the second attempt.

Sudbury replaced Clements with Darren Bethell and after Luck was denied a shooting opportunity by a fine tackle by Hughes, they drew level on 74 minutes with an excellent goal.

A turn of pace by Rowe allowed him to surge on to a through ball and burst clear of the Canvey defence. As Capleton came off his line, he bent a superb low shot from outside the area into the bottom corner of the net for an exquisite finish.

Canvey were stunned and Sudbury started to push them back as they searched for a goal to win the tie.

Edgar tested Munson with a low shot from outside the area that the keeper held on 78 minutes.

Sudbury continued to dominate possession but Canvey withstood this pressure bravely to take the game into extra time.

Both sets of players seemed to be visibly tiring as the heavy pitch started to take its’ toll.

Somehow, Canvey managed to raise their weary legs for one last effort.

Luck nearly got on the end of a through pass at the start of extra time but David Head made a fine tackle to deny him.

Canvey replaced the tiring Gabriel Fanibuyan with Chris Bourne and his pace and fresh legs gave them some new attacking impetus.

They had a scare when a low driven right wing cross struck a Canvey defender and bounced just wide of the far post but it was the Gulls who began to create the better opportunities.

On 100 minutes, Clydie Roberts forced Munson to acrobatically punch away his snap-shot from the edge of the area. The loose ball was eventually worked back into the area from the right with Gordon heading into the side netting at the far post from a difficult angle.

The first period of extra time came to an end with the score still level and as the match approached its’ final six minutes, penalty kicks to decide the contest looked inevitable.

Up stepped Leon Gordon once again to decide the match. Davidson sent in another fine delivery from a free kick on the left flank and Gordon was there again to glance a header into the bottom corner of the net to send the travelling support into unbridled delirium.

Sudbury tried desperately to rescue an equaliser in the final 5 minutes but Canvey were in no mood to surrender their lead this time. Sudbury substitute Luke Hammond saw his goal bound shot superbly blocked by Wall and with Jon Stuart replacing Luck, Canvey managed to run down the clock to secure their victory.

The final whistle was greeted with great joy as Canvey supporters and players celebrated on the pitch and now the Gulls are potentially just 90 minutes away from a place in the Ryman Premier League next season.

Dean Holdsworth’s Redbridge stand in their way of that dream becoming reality.

Yellow’s Man of the Match:

LEON GORDON: Run himself into the ground up front, chasing every loose ball. Scored two superb headers in a truly inspirational performance.

Match Report by David Powell.