Match Report

Canvey Island made it three games unbeaten in the league with a 1-1 draw against Redbridge at Park Lane. The Gulls will come away feeling this was probably a point won. They never really got going against a tough and well organised Redbridge side who created the better chances and will feel they could have taken all three points.

It was Canvey though who opened the scoring after just two minutes. Gabriel Fanibuyan was felled in the box and the referee had no hesitation but to give a penalty. Captain Craig Davidson stepped up to fire home past Robert Budd.

Canvey had the ball in the net again 8 minutes later when Nicky Rugg fired home from Dave Kreyling’s cross but the referee disallowed the goal for offside. A few minutes later Redbridge should have drawn level when Leon Antoine was presented with a chance but he scuffed his shot straight into Ricky Wiseman’s grateful arms.

Redbridge were beginning to ask a few questions of the Canvey defence and were generally dominating possession in midfield. A fine move on 22 minutes saw the ball worked from left to right and Ryan Lee screwed his shot wide at the far post.

Canvey were not so lucky on 31 minutes when they failed to clear a high ball into the box and Antoine was allowed to turn and fire a low shot into the bottom corner of the net beyond Wiseman.
Ian Luck nearly broke through down the left wing for Canvey soon afterwards with a great direct run but was stopped by a defender. Redbridge finished the half strongly with both Dave Kreyling and Jon Stuart having to be alert to clear some attacks.

A rather dour contest didn’t really improve in the second half with neither side creating too much in the way of clear cut chances. Redbridge although edging the second half never really tested Ricky Wiseman in the Canvey goal. Their final ball into the box was rather disappointing at times and when chances did fall to their forwards, their finishing was not convincing at all with shots often miscued or scuffed.

Canvey came close to scoring on 51 minutes when Budd came out to block well from Nicky Rugg after Danny Curran’s pass had released him down the left wing. Curran had been having a reasonably quiet game up to now but burst into life again on 59 minutes showing great skill to make himself some space and play in a great cross from the left to Jon Stuart on the far post. Canvey’s man of the match sent in a towering header that looked like it would beat Budd but landed on the top of the net.

Neither side could find the opening to win the game although Redbridge were enjoying the greater possession and looking the more likely to score especially from set pieces. Canvey were struggling to retain any sort of possession and despite the introduction of Chris Bourne and Daniel Francis to proceedings, they couldn’t find a way past an excellent Redbridge defence that performed well throughout.

The last opportunity of the game fell to Clydie Roberts who headed over from Craig Davidson’s left wing free kick in stoppage time. So a draw for Canvey who will look to get back to winning ways with victory over Aveley next weekend.

Oysterfleet Man of the Match

JON STUART:  Another brave and effective performance from the centre back.

Match Report by David Powell.