Match Report

Canvey Island ended a 4 match winless run with an impressive 4-1 win over Arlesey Town at the Chateau Roux Stadium. This victory reignited Gulls’ play off aspirations and they were well worth their win, dominating the game from start to finish despite a strong wind that made conditions difficult at times.

With the wind in their favour, Canvey dominated the first half but it was Arlesey who created the first scoring opportunity after 4 minutes. A good ball from Leon Gutzmore sent Obi Nene clear but James Russell in the Canvey goal made a good block.

Canvey gradually settled and started to play some good football with Richard Halle bossing the midfield and Gabriel Fanibuyan constantly teasing the Arlesey defence down the left wing.

On 17 minutes, some good play by Nicky Rugg saw him send a ball in from the left that was met by Jay Curran but he sent his header off target.

Rugg then got on the end of a good left wing cross from Fanibuyan at the far post but couldn’t quite direct his header towards goal.

As half time approached, Canvey cranked up the pressure in an attempt to get an important goal to take into the second half.

Matt Clark had to be alert to block a couple of shots after Arlesey keeper Luke Howard had spilt a cross.

Andrew West fired over from long range and then Halle sent a header inches wide of the goal after he got on the end of a left wing cross.

Canvey’s pressure eventually told on 43 minutes when they took the lead. Jay Curran latched on to a poor kick out by the keeper to break free down the right wing. As Howard came out of his goal, Curran’s chip from a difficult angle caught in the wind and sailed into the net.

Despite having the wind against them in the second half, Gulls raised their game and played some excellent football at times.

Richard Halle did superbly to beat a couple of challenges on a mazy run towards the goal on 47 minutes. The ball bounced to Curran who sliced wide of goal.

Halle was then unlucky not to get on the score sheet when his precise header from Leon Gordon’s right wing cross crashed back off of the crossbar.

On 51 minutes, Canvey went further in front. From a free kick on the left wing, Kevin Dobinson played a great ball into the area where Curran was there to score with a powerful header from a few yards out.

Arlesey made a couple of substitutions but the game was all but over on 70 minutes when Curran completed his hat-trick. Gordon’s right wing corner was flicked on by Colin Wall to Curran on the edge of the area and he took his time to fire a low shot through a crowd of players into the bottom corner of the net.

Fanibuyan nearly added a fourth on 82 minutes when he showed great skill to go past the defender but Howard made a good block from his close range shot.

Arlesey responded a minute later with Gutzmore getting on the end of Lee Tekell’s free kick and sending in a diving header towards goal but Russell did brilliantly to get down and parry the ball to safety.

Canvey replaced hat-trick hero Curran with Ian Luck on 84 minutes and with virtually his first touch, Luck added a fourth goal. Rugg did well to hold the ball up and send Luck clear down the right hand side of the area. Luck showed a cool head to drill a low shot beyond Howard and into the corner of the net.

Disappointingly for Canvey they failed to keep a clean sheet when Tekell’s free kick from the left wing went straight through a crowd of players in the area and past Russell to nestle in the corner of the net.

That completed the scoring but there was still more drama after the final whistle when Arlesey captain Matt Waldron was shown a red card for arguing with the referee.

A good victory for Canvey that keeps their play off dream alive. They are next in action on Tuesday night when they visit Witham Town.

Yellow’s Man of the Match:

JAY CURRAN:  A hardworking performance was topped off by a superb hat-trick.

Match Report by David Powell.