Match Report

A 1-0 victory over struggling Wivenhoe Town at Park Lane kept Canvey Island’s hopes of a play off place alive.

Despite the narrow margin of victory, Canvey dominated this game from start to finish and but for some better finishing, good goalkeeping and defending and sheer bad luck, the Gulls could have racked up a near cricket score.

Canvey started briskly attacking the Wivenhoe goal straight from the off. In the opening minute of the game, Jay Curran got on the end of a Gabriel Fanibuyan cross from the right wing at the near post but a combination of defender and goalkeeper Richard McKinney managed to block his effort and keep it out.

Curran was again involved on 5 minutes when he managed to latch on to Richard Halle’s header. Curran struck a powerful shot from close range but former Gulls’ keeper McKinney pulled off a brilliant reaction save to turn the ball away for a corner.

Canvey were playing some great football and on 8 minutes some superb play by Fanibuyan saw him dribble past a defender and chip the ball back from the right to Steve Corbell. Unfortunately Corbell drove his shot at the far post across goal and wide of the target.

Wivenhoe suffered an early injury blow when they had to replace Anthony Fenton on 12 minutes and despite some good defending at times by the experienced Stuart Nethercott and captain James Cole, they looked exceptionally vulnerable down the flanks with both Corbell and Leon Gordon finding plenty of space.

Some good play by Gordon and Nicky Rugg worked an opening for Jay Curran on 19 minutes. Rugg played the ball through to Curran but McKinney did well to block his effort from close range.

Seven minutes later, it was Fanibuyan’s turn to test the Wivenhoe defence. A surging run from midfield took him into the penalty area but just as he was about to shoot, James Cole made a great tackle to prevent him from getting a shot away.

The resulting right wing corner from Gordon was flicked on and just eluded Colin Wall as he stretched to reach the ball at the far post.

Wivenhoe created very few opportunities during the first half and James Russell in the Canvey goal had very little to do for most of the game. Canvey’s defence of Wall, Kevin Dobinson, Craig Davidson and Andrew West had a relatively comfortable afternoon, dealing with everything presented their way with a calm assurance.

Corbell saw his low free kick from the edge of the area on 42 minutes deflected just wide and then two minutes later, Canvey finally had the lead.

Halle was fouled on the left wing and from the resulting free kick, Corbell’s ball into the area was fumbled by McKinney. The ball was flicked on to Colin Wall who had the simple task of heading home into the empty net from close range.

It was the perfect way to end the half and Canvey looked to go on and seal the three points in the second half.

Despite their pressure and creating a number of chances, Gulls just couldn’t kill the game off and had to endure a frustrating second half at times.

James Nash and Daniel Flack were booked for fouls for Wivenhoe as Canvey cranked the pressure up on their goal.

On 58 minutes, Dobinson met Corbell’s right wing corner at the near post with a powerful header but his effort was straight at McKinney who held the ball.

Seconds later and Jay Curran latched on to a weak goal kick and tried a speculative lob from nearly 45 yards. McKinney was relieved to see the ball sail inches wide of the goal.

On 61 minutes, Fanibuyan again showed some great skill, running from midfield and then from the left hand corner of the penalty area chipping the ball back to Gordon who got his head to the ball but could only direct it off target.

Dobinson tested McKinney with a powerful snap shot that the keeper claimed at the second attempt.

Still Canvey couldn’t find that decisive second goal that would make the game safe. They brought on Chris Bourne for Steve Corbell on 70 minutes as they continued to attack.

Rugg felt he might have got a penalty on 76 minutes when it appeared he was tugged back in the box but soon after that, Canvey had their only real scare of the game. Russell seemed beaten by a dangerous low cross from the right into the area but Wall was there to clear the danger before any of the forwards could pounce.

Canvey regained their concentration after this fright and on 81 minutes, Curran fired a powerful shot into the side netting after Halle’s flick on from Gordon’s right wing corner had fallen to him just inside the box.

Wivenhoe were starting show a little more urgency in their attacks but as a result left gaps in the midfield that Fanibuyan and Halle exploited well.

Another superb charge towards goal by Fanibuyan was halted by Nethercott’s tackle on 85 minutes. The skilful midfielder felt he should have got a penalty but the referee waved away the protests giving Canvey just a corner.

With virtually the last kick of the game, Canvey could have grabbed a deserved second goal. Fanibuyan showed great awareness to flick an intelligent ball from the edge of the area through to Curran. Curran was able to poke the ball past McKinney but Nethercott managed to get enough on his shot to deflect it wide for a corner.

The final whistle blew soon after and Canvey went away happy with another three points but certainly will feel that they deserved to win this game by a far greater margin.

With Edgware losing to Sudbury, Gulls now occupy a position in the top 5. They travel to Maldon Town next week knowing a victory there would go a long way towards sealing a play off spot.

Oysterfleet Man of the Match:

COLIN WALL:  Another commanding performance at the back topped off by the winning goal.

Match Report by David Powell.