Match Report

Canvey Island’s FA Cup campaign ended in disappointing defeat as they went down 2-1 at Rothwell Town in the Preliminary Round of the competition at Cecil Street. The British Gas Business League Midlands Division One side shaded a tight contest and despite their possession, Canvey rarely tested Rothwell keeper Tom Smith.

It was the Northamptonshire side that started well and after missing a few half chances, they took the lead on 16 minutes.  Kevin Byrne chased after a long ball and managed to toe poke it beyond Mel Capleton and into the net.

Capleton had to make a fine save to turn a header around the post soon after but Canvey gradually came back into the game. Nicky Rugg headed wide from Craig Davidson’s deep free kick on 18 minutes and then soon after Ian Luck received a long ball and curled an opportunist effort from around 20 yards just too high and wide.

On 28 minutes, Canvey were level. Gabriel Fanibuyan did well to beat his man and send over a decent cross from the left that Rugg met with a powerful header at the near post giving Smith no chance.

Canvey though couldn’t build on this equaliser despite the hard work of Leon Gordon and Danny Curran down the wings. It was Rothwell who should have taken the lead on the stroke of half time. Kevin Byrne left Colin Wall for dead down the right wing and his cross was met by Michael Boyle Chong at the near post but he blasted high and wide with the goal gaping.

Straight after this, it was Canvey on the attack and Ian Luck twisted past his marker and fired in a fine shot that Smith turned away from the top corner in the last action of the half.

The second half was a much tighter affair with Canvey dominating possession and Rothwell threatening on the break. Some strange refereeing decisions didn’t help the flow of the game as neither side were really able to get on top. Colin Wall was booked for a foul and soon after Danny Curran had to be alert to clear a header from a right wing corner off the line with his head.

On 63 minutes, substitute Robert Richie-Smith curled a free kick just wide of the post although Jon Stuart was on the line and watched the ball safely drift wide. Canvey were having plenty of possession but not doing a great deal with it. At times passes were going astray and their final ball was lacking on several occasions. In the end, Rothwell made the Gulls pay with a swift counter attack from a Canvey corner on 78 minutes.

Good work by Richie Smith and Byrne down the left saw a deflected cross fall to Boyle Chong at the far post and unlike in the first half, this time he made no mistake firing the ball home beyond Capleton.

Canvey tried desperately to get back into the game but found the Rothwell defence especially Adam Sturgess in an uncompromising mood. Gabriel Fanibuyan had a strong shout for a penalty when he went down under a challenge but the referee waved away any protests by the Gulls’ players.

So a disappointing defeat and Canvey will be hoping to end a run of three successive defeats with a positive result away to Waltham Forest next weekend

Yellow’s Man of the Match:

NICKY RUGG :  Worked hard and scored a well taken goal.

Match Report by David Powell.