Match Report

A 3-2 victory over Wingate & Finchley at the Abrahams Stadium saw Canvey Island extend their unbeaten run to 8 league matches.

Gulls have not lost in the league since Boxing Day and with several of the teams directly above them losing their games, they now find themselves just two points off a play off spot with games in hand.
Canvey dominated this game but made hard work of it at times especially in the second half as their hosts kept battling right until the end.

Canvey started brightly, dominating possession for the first 25 minutes. Danny Curran tested Wingate keeper Gavin King with a shot that the former Billericay custodian had to save at the second attempt. Then Nicky Rugg saw a free kick on the edge of the penalty area blocked by the defensive wall on 19 minutes.

Five minutes later Canvey were in front. Jay Curran was dragged back by the defender on the edge of the area and from the resulting free kick, Craig Davidson’s low drive was parried back into the goalmouth by King. This lead to a scramble in the box with the ball eventually falling to Davidson.
The Canvey skipper showed great composure to calmly steer his shot through a crowd of bodies from inside the penalty area into the bottom corner of the net.

Their lead didn’t last long as almost straight away, Wingate won a free kick around 25 yards from goal. Joe O’ Brien stepped up to drill a low shot through the wall and into the bottom corner of the net with a slight bobble of the ball deceiving James Russell in the Canvey goal.

For the next ten minutes, Wingate had a good period of pressure winning a number of corners but apart from a few flurries, Canvey’s defence held firm with Colin Wall and Kevin Dobinson showing some great composure at times to win tackles and headers.

Canvey gradually regained their control on the game and bombarded the Wingate goal in a good spell of pressure just before scoring their second goal.

On 39 minutes, Rugg did well to get in a hooked cross from the right wing that found Jay Curran unmarked in the centre of the area. He unfortunately directed his header over the bar. A minute later and it was Clydie Roberts involved in the action, dragging a low drive from the edge of the area just off target.

With virtually the next attack, Dobinson played an exquisite long pass from the back that found Nicky Rugg. Rugg showed great tenacity and strength to shake off his marker and fire in an opportunist effort from 20 yards that just dipped over the bar.

Wingate were struggling desperately to clear their lines and almost immediately Canvey were on the attack again with Gabriel Fanibuyan bursting into life. He did well to show great skill in a tight situation and then free Rugg with a fine pass. King did well to save Rugg’s effort with his foot and then reacted well to block Roberts’ vicious shot from the rebound again with his feet.

It was a reprieve for Wingate but this barely lasted 30 seconds as Canvey regained the lead on 42 minutes. The ball was worked out to Craig Davidson on the left wing and he had the time and space to play in a perfect cross to the unmarked Jay Curran at the near post who sent a precise header beyond King and into the net.

Moments later and Canvey were further ahead. Billy Armarteifio misjudged a long ball and Jay Curran was able to run on and finish confidently beyond King for his second goal of the game and his tenth for the season.

Straight away Wingate were on the attack with Russell doing well to block an effort at his near post and conceding a corner. O’ Brien fired another free kick high over the bar as an exciting first half drew to a close.

The second half was a quieter affair with Canvey having the edge but not quite being able to find the fourth goal that would kill off any resistance that Wingate had.

Wingate brought on Tashan Bradshaw Brown at half time and his pace often troubled Canvey at times. A good run and cross on 63 minutes nearly picked out O’ Brien in the middle but he couldn’t quite reach the ball.

Danny Curran picked up an injury on 66 minutes and was replaced by Steve Corbell. Corbell could have sealed the game for Canvey four minutes later. After Rugg was fouled on the edge of the area, Corbell stepped up to curl a fine free kick around the wall but it bounced to safety off the base of the post.

On 77 minutes, Wingate grabbed themselves a lifeline with Bradshaw Brown being left in space to finish off a fine passing move.

It looked like it could be a nervy last 15 minutes for the Gulls but they tightened up and despite a couple of attacking flurries from Wingate, they were able to keep their attackers at bay.

Andy Edmunds fired a shot from the left hand side across goal but this was the only real scare Gulls had to contend with.

The final whistle blew soon after to seal a vital three points for Canvey. They are next in league action next weekend when Great Wakering make the short journey to Park Lane where Gulls will be looking for revenge for last season’s 4-1 thrashing.

Yellow’s Man of the Match:

KEVIN DOBINSON:  Great performance at the back, showing great anticipation to win many headers and tackles.

Match Report by David Powell.