Match Report

Canvey Island progressed to the next round of the Thames-side Trophy with a penalty shoot out victory over Southend Manor of the Essex Senior League at Park Lane.

On a cold, windy night, the game ended 2-2 in normal time and with neither team able to find a winner during the 30 minutes extra time, a penalty shoot out had to settle the result.

Canvey eventually won this 5-4 in sudden death after both teams had taken eight penalties each.

Canvey edged the first half taking the lead thanks to a goal from young reserve striker Kieron English after 22 minutes. English showed good strength to hold off a couple of defenders, find some room and then fire a low shot into the bottom corner of the net beyond Manor keeper Adam Seal from inside the area.

Dave Kreyling was nearly on the score sheet a few minutes later when Leon Gordon’s right wing corner deflected into his path but he headed just over the crossbar.

Manor posed something of a threat on the counter attack and the strong wind often caused problems for the Canvey defence keeping Ricky Wiseman on his toes on many occasions.

It was Manor who grabbed an equaliser on 54 minutes. Martin Stanton Hope latched on to a clever through pass from Ross Webster to go on and fire past Wiseman into the bottom corner of the net.

Manor’s joy was short-lived as two minutes later, Canvey retook the lead. Jay Curran laid the ball back to Clydie Roberts on the edge of the penalty area. Roberts did superbly to pick his way past a couple of tackles and then place a precise shot from just inside the area into the bottom corner of the net.

Canvey looked to go on and seal the match but sloppy defending allowed Manor an equaliser on 66 minutes.

Stanton Hope took advantage of a static Canvey backline to latch on to Chris Wilson’s pass and go through and fire beyond Wiseman from the right hand side of the penalty area.

Canvey acted immediately by bringing on Nicky Rugg and Ryan Edgar for Jay Curran and Daniel Francis and they dominated the remaining twenty minutes without finding a winning goal.

Stuart Batch nearly grabbed himself a rare goal on 73 minutes when with the keeper stranded, he attempted a lob from 25 yards. The ball appeared to be dropping under the crossbar but was headed off the line by the defender.

Kieron English rippled the side netting with a shot from the edge of the area and then with 5 minutes remaining, Gordon broke on to a through ball but volleyed just over the crossbar.

Canvey suffered an injury blow with Rugg limping off just before the end of the ninety minutes. He was replaced by young defender Andrew Mumford.

With the score still level at 90 minutes the game went into extra time but neither side could find a winning goal.

Kieran English fired just over at the start of extra time but despite dominating possession, Canvey couldn’t find a way past a well organised Manor defence with Kevin Cole in particular having an impressive game.

Manor occasionally threatened on the counter attack. Wiseman had to tip an awkward looking free kick from deep over the bar and then made a good block to deny Stanton Hope when he got through on goal.

Canvey may have snatched a goal in the closing minutes of extra time when Jon Stuart was left unmarked at Craig Davidson’s left wing free kick but headed over.

So the game had to be decided by penalties. Davidson and English scored to put Canvey 2-0 ahead with Manor missing both of their first two spot kicks.

They redeemed themselves by scoring their next two and with Ryan Edgar having his effort saved and Gordon scoring, Ricky Wiseman stepped up to put Canvey through but blazed his shot wildly high and wide of the target.

Ty Benjiman scored with his spot kick to level the score at 3-3 and with each side having taken their allotted 5 penalties, it was now into sudden death.

Roberts saw his penalty saved by Seal but Wiseman redeemed himself for his earlier miss by keeping out the next Manor penalty.

Kreyling scored for Canvey with Mark Sisson successfully slotting home his kick for Manor to make it 4-4.

Stuart Batch confidently fired his kick home for Canvey but Wilson thumped his effort high over the bar to end the shoot out 5-4 in the Gulls’ favour.

Canvey will now face either Brentwood or Ilford in the next round and continue their quest for a play off place on Saturday with a fixture against Witham Town at Park Lane.

Oysterfleet Man of the Match:

LEON GORDON:  Another quality all round performance on the wing and up front.

Match Report by David Powell.