Match Report

Canvey Island let slip a two goal lead against Great Wakering Rovers at Burroughs Park after an astonishing finish to the game. Canvey were leading 2-0 going into injury time and seemingly cruising to victory but two goals in added on time gave Rovers an unlikely 2-2 draw that for most of the match seemed very unlikely.

Canvey dominated much of the game but with the referee playing a bizarre amount of injury time at the end of the game, the Gulls were left to rue their failure to play to the final whistle.

It was Canvey who edged a lacklustre first half. The swirling wind made conditions difficult for both teams and neither side were really able to get on top. Daniel Francis forced Wakering keeper Louis Green into a fine save after just three minutes when his low drive from just outside the area was turned around the post with both hands by the keeper.

That was the only time Green was really tested in the first half and Canvey suffered a real blow after 20 minutes when talented winger Francis was stretchered off after falling awkwardly. He was replaced by Clydie Roberts.

Andrew West nearly got on the end of a Leon Gordon corner on 32 minutes but it was Wakering who ended the half by creating the best chance of the game on 41 minutes.
Jon Stuart had to make a superb block to deny Neil Richmond when he found some space in the box and tried to weave his way towards goal.

From the resulting corner a header was sent inches over the bar from close range.
With the wind starting to ease, Canvey began the second half looking a far more cohesive unit and began to play some good attacking football with Danny Curran at the heart of some of their best moves.

It was Curran who opened the scoring on 49 minutes, turning a defender and firing in a shot from the edge of the area that Green got both his hands to but could only watch agonisingly as the ball dribbled into the net much to the delight of the travelling Yellow Army.

Curran nearly repeated the trick a couple of minutes later finding some space and then tricking his way past a defender before his shot was deflected wide. Canvey were looking solid in defence and creative in midfield. Chris Bourne who enjoyed a fine game in defence made a marauding run down the right on 62 minutes but saw his speculative shot from around 25 yards drift just too high and wide.

Wakering sent on manager Ian O’ Connell for Steve Butterworth in a desperate attempt to get something out of the game but Canvey still looked comfortably in control. It looked like they had sealed the game on 81 minutes with a well worked goal. Jon Stuart did well to win a loose ball and played a fine pass to release Leon Gordon down the right wing. The speedy winger got to the by-line and played the perfect pass across goal for Nicky Rugg to tap home from a few yards out.

That should have been game over. With Gabriel Fanibuyan, Clydie Roberts and Ryan Edgar all looking lively in the midfield, Canvey looked good for a third goal. Edgar nearly gave them this with a powerful drive from outside the box from a half cleared corner that forced Green into a good parry.

Neil Richmond gave Canvey a warning sign in the 90th minute when he fired over from close range when he really should have hit the target but apart from a few high balls and a couple of through passes, Canvey goalkeeper Ricky Wiseman had barely been tested. When O’ Connell latched on to a knockdown to place his finish beyond Wiseman and into the corner of the net it looked a mere consolation.

Somehow there was still time for Richmond a few minutes later to latch on to a knock on from a free kick and turn and fire home beyond Wiseman into the bottom corner of the net to complete a dramatic comeback for Wakering and cue scenes of absolute bedlam on the Rovers’ bench.

The final whistle blew soon after with the referee having played an astonishing 7 minutes of stoppage time.

Canvey were stunned but will be heartened by a decent attacking performance in the second half and they played some good football at times. A lack of concentration in the final moments cost them dear though but they have the perfect opportunity to put this right when they travel to Enfield Town on Tuesday night for a tough looking league fixture.

Supporter’s Coach Man of the Match:

JON STUART:  Despite the defence conceding two late goals, he had a strong game at the back and played a part in creating the second goal.

Match Report by David Powell.