Match Report

A ten man Canvey side secured a narrow 1-0 victory over Great Wakering at Park Lane to extend their unbeaten run to 9 league matches. In front of a season’s best crowd of 382, The Gulls had to do without the services of Richard Halle for the majority of the game after the midfielder was sent off on 12 minutes but produced a spirited and gritty display to obtain the victory.

Despite Great Wakering dominating possession they were unable to break through a Canvey defence in which both Kevin Dobinson and George Blewer had excellent games.

Wakering started briskly, creating the better opportunities and putting the Canvey defence under pressure.

Danny Pitts curled a free kick from just outside the area narrowly wide of the post after 2 minutes and then a few minutes later, Blewer did well to get back and clear an effort away from the line.

On 9 minutes, disaster struck for Canvey when Halle after being fouled was sent off for kicking out at James Foy as both players tangled on the ground.

It was a big loss for Canvey but their ten men rolled up their sleeves and battled with Dobinson and Craig Davidson leading by example at the back.

Heartened by their extra man advantage, Wakering pressured the Canvey goal. James Russell had to be agile to turn over a swirling cross and then watched as a flicked header crashed off of the crossbar before being cleared to safety by Blewer.

It was Canvey who took the lead though on 34 minutes. Steve Corbell played a free kick from wide on the right into the box that eluded everybody and with keeper Louis Green unsighted, the ball nestled into the bottom corner of the net.

It was the stroke of luck that Canvey needed and with Nicky Rugg and Jay Curran working hard up front, they kept the Wakering defence on their toes.

Canvey started the second half brightly with Corbell nearly picking out Nicky Rugg at the far post with a fine left wing free kick but Canvey’s top scorer couldn’t quite reach the ball.

Two minutes later and it was James Russell in the Canvey goal showing good reactions to save a header after the forward had been left unmarked at the far post from a right wing free kick.

Rugg was battling hard up front but not getting too many opportunities with Wakering captain Nikki Beale having a solid game.

Martin Tuohy had a great opportunity to draw Wakering level on 55 minutes but saw his first time volley at the near post from Mark Cartlidge’s excellent left wing cross just shave the crossbar.

Rugg then did well on 61 minutes in a tight situation to chip the ball back across goal to Andrew West who saw his cushioned header bounce just wide of the far post.

Jay Curran then got on the end of Corbell’s free kick from deep into the penalty area but sent a powerful header off target.

That was Curran’s last contribution to the action as he was replaced by Stuart Batch. This left Rugg up front on his own but he battled manfully and nearly got lucky with an opportunist shot as he cut in from the left that Green fumbled but managed to get back just in time to prevent it from going over the line.

With just Rugg to aim for, Canvey found it difficult to get out of their own half in the last 20 minutes and with Wakering sending on Neil Richmond as an extra attacker, they started to mount some pressure on the Canvey goal.

Still they couldn’t find a way past a spirited Canvey backline with Dobinson in particular clearing many dangerous situations.

Canvey sent on Daniel Francis for Steve Corbell and gave young reserve striker Kieran English his first taste of Ryman league football replacing Rugg who worked tirelessly all game.

The Canvey defence had to defend desperately going into injury time with the penalty area resembling a game of pinball at one stage with Dobinson doing brilliantly to get a vital block in to prevent a shot on goal.

There was still time for a looping header from the Wakering forward from a right wing cross to bounce off the top of the crossbar and out of play.

Seconds later, the referee blew for full time to seal a vital three points for Canvey that takes them up to 6th place in the league.

Gulls will look to continue their fine run of form when they go to a Brentwood side directly below them in the table on Tuesday night.

Oysterfleet Man of the Match:

KEVIN DOBINSON:   Another fine defensive display. Very little got past him all afternoon and made a number of important interceptions and blocks.

Match Report by David Powell.