Match Report

Canvey Island extended their unbeaten run to 4 matches in Ryman Division One North with a sensational 3-0 victory over an in form Ware side at Wodson Park.

Ware missed two second half penalties but Canvey were good value for their victory, taking their chances superbly and defending solidly with on loan goalkeeper James Russell making an impressive debut. Richard Halle made his first start after returning to the Gulls from a short spell at Hornchurch and he had a strong combative game in the midfield.

Canvey started brightly winning a couple of set pieces in dangerous positions in the first few minutes.

Sam Berry fired a speculative shot from 25 yards high over the bar on 13 minutes but Canvey were starting to settle down and play some good football. Clydie Roberts and Halle were dominating the midfield and Nicky Rugg and Jay Curran were causing the Ware back-line some real headaches with their intelligent running and excellent work-rate.

They took a deserved lead on 17 minutes. Leon Gordon’s free kick from wide on the right found Jon Stuart unmarked in the penalty area and he sent a powerful header beyond Ryan Jones and into the net.

Ware had not really threatened the Canvey goal during the first twenty minutes but eventually tested Russell on 26 minutes. Berry’s free kick from just outside the penalty area seemed to be heading for the bottom corner of the net but Russell did brilliantly to get across his goal and turn the ball away for a corner.

Canvey could have extended their lead shortly after. Some good play by Steve Corbell and Jay Curran down the left saw Curran play a great cross to Gordon who got a toe to the ball but directed his effort wide of the goal from a few yards out. On 40 minutes it was Corbell’s turn to test Ryan Jones with a snap shot from 25 yards that the keeper did well to hold.

After dominating the first half, Canvey found themselves having to defend a period of good pressure from Ware at the start of the second half. They were indebted to Russell for a couple of fine saves during this period. On 46 minutes, the Ware forward shrugged off Dave Kreyling to get a clear sight on goal but Russell made a fine block and then did well to get his body in the way of the rebound before bravely claiming the loose ball.

Ware were certainly having their best period of the game and on 51 minutes they should have levelled the scores from the penalty spot after Chris Bourne rashly tackled Joe Stevens as he headed towards the by-line.

The referee pointed to the spot but Scott Nielson stepped up to fire his kick wide of Russell’s left hand post. It was a let off for Canvey and gradually they regained their grip on proceedings with Kreyling and Stuart winning everything in the air and Andrew West and Bourne doing a good job to keep the wingers at bay.

Ware though kept attacking but failed to exploit a stroke of luck on 68 minutes. After Russell had made another fine block to deny the forward when he got in on goal, Leon Gordon was harshly adjudged to have handled the resulting corner as it came into the box.

Up stepped Paul Berry from the resulting spot kick but to the Ware fans’ dismay, he skied his effort high and wide of the target. With that miss, Ware heads dropped and Canvey sensed that it was going to be their day.

Danny Curran replaced Steve Corbell as Canvey searched for the crucial second goal to seal victory. Rugg nearly provided that goal on 76 minutes after beating the goalkeeper to a long ball. Rugg’s effort seemed set to roll into the net but somehow was hacked off of the line by a retreating defender just as the Canvey fans were starting to celebrate.

The link up play between Jay Curran and Rugg was starting to pull the Ware defence apart and Rugg had another great chance to score on 83 minutes. Jay Curran broke free down the right and sent his cross over the stranded goalkeeper to Rugg whose header towards an empty goal was blocked well by the defender.

The Gulls didn’t have to wait long for the second goal though and it was certainly a goal worth waiting for. Clydie Roberts picked the ball up on the edge of area, weaved his way past a couple of defenders before firing low into the bottom corner of the net beyond Jones. It was goal of real quality and skill and sent the travelling Yellow Army wild.

That goal virtually sealed the victory for Gulls but there was still more to come. In injury time Gordon picked up a wayward pass from the Ware defender to stride through and confidently fire past Jones and into the net to complete a marvellous 3-0 win.

This was certainly one of Canvey’s most impressive victories of the season against a Ware side whose recent form had been excellent and had put them in contention for the title.
Canvey now go to struggling Potters Bar on Tuesday confident of building on their impressive recent performances.

Supporter’s Coach Man of the Match:

JAMES RUSSELL:   A simply brilliant display from the young Stevenage loanee keeper on his debut for Canvey.

Match Report by David Powell.