Match Report

Canvey Island gave their play off chances a boost with an emphatic 5-1 win over Witham Town at Spa Road. This victory saw Canvey climb up to sixth in the table and they are just a point off the play off places with a game in hand on some of the teams above them.

Although Witham created the better early chances, Canvey were dominant throughout and played some fine attacking football at times.

Jay Curran was again the star of the show following on from his hat-trick against Arlesey with another three goal haul and his confidence will be sky high after another fine performance.

Canvey started positively and created the first chance of the game. On 3 minutes Craig Davidson floated a free kick into the area from the left wing and Jay Curran flicked his header off target.

Witham though settled and began to ask a few questions of the Canvey defence. The Gulls’ defence was slow to close down a shot from the edge of the area that drifted wide of James Russell’s goal.

Witham’s best chance was spurned wastefully by Cody McDonald on 17 minutes. McDonald tricked his way past Colin Wall but with just Russell to beat he drove his shot wide of the target.

Russell had to pull off a great reaction save on 24 minutes keeping out a powerful shot from Julian Edwards with Andrew West quick to hack the loose ball away as the Witham forwards looked to pounce on the rebound.

Canvey though looked capable of scoring every time they got near the Witham penalty area and on 29 minutes they grabbed the opening goal.

Gabriel Fanibuyan’s pass into the area appeared to have been handled by a defender but the loose ball fell to Clydie Roberts who drilled a fantastic low shot from around 20 yards that beat Witham keeper Rhys Madden as it nestled into the bottom corner of the net.

Canvey’s confidence visibly rose and they nearly netted another goal two minutes later when Davidson’s right wing free kick caused havoc in the Witham penalty area and Kevin Dobinson volleyed the loose ball inches over the bar from inside the area.

Both Roberts and Richard Halle were dominating the midfield and Halle sent in a fine ball from the left that just eluded both Curran and Nicky Rugg as it went across the face of the goal.

Canvey didn’t have to wait long to claim their second goal. Leon Gordon was the instigator of the goal with some good play down the right. He laid the ball off to Curran who fired home into the roof of the net. Madden got a hand to the ball but couldn’t keep the effort out.

Witham responded with Edwards firing in a low shot from inside the area that Russell did well to get down to and hold at a stretch.

On 39 minutes it was 3-0. Halle’s ball into the box was pounced upon eventually by Gordon and although he couldn’t get a shot in, the ball broke to Curran who fired home emphatically.

Witham grabbed themselves a lifeline two minutes later when Edwards was adjudged by the referee to have been fouled in the area. Edwards stepped up and calmly slotted the resulting penalty into the corner of the net.

Curran had the chance to grab his hat-trick just before half time but after breaking through, his attempted lob over Madden was just too high and the ball sailed over the bar.

Witham started the second half positively but by now the Canvey defence had got rid of some of its’ earlier sloppyness and was defending well as a unit.

Joe Smith fired a tame shot at Russell but by now Canvey had weathered this pressure and were looking likely to get the killer fourth goal.

Canvey had a strong shout for a penalty on 53 minutes when Fanibuyan went down under a robust challenge but the referee turned down Canvey appeals for a spot kick.

On 60 minutes Halle tested Madden with a good shot from outside the area that the keeper did well to parry to safety.

Seven minutes later and it was game over with Curran claiming his hat-trick. Davidson sent another fine free kick into the area from the right wing that was met by a towering header from Curran that looped into the top corner of the net.

Canvey were rampant now and on 73 minutes completed the scoring with another fine goal. Fanibuyan who enjoyed another excellent performance ran at the Witham defence and squared the ball to Rugg who had the time and space to plant a precise shot into the bottom corner of the net from inside the area.

Witham were a beaten side and Canvey saw out the remaining 17 minutes plus stoppage time quite comfortably with Rugg and Wall going close to scoring a sixth goal.

This was an impressive performance and after a run of four games without a win which yielded just one goal, Canvey have started to hit form again in their last two outings.

The Gulls pay Suffolk a visit twice in a week when they visit Bury Town next weekend and then AFC Sudbury on the following Tuesday in two games that could well go a long way towards deciding their play off fate.

Yellow’s Man of the Match:

JAY CURRAN: Walked away with the match ball for a second consecutive game after another fine display of finishing.

Match Report by David Powell.