Match Report

Canvey Island picked up three points after a thrilling 3-2 victory over local rivals AFC Hornchurch at Park Lane.

In front of a crowd of 368, Gulls battled back from 1-0 down at half time to snatch the points in an enthralling last 30 minutes.

The game turned on the introduction of strikers Leon Antoine and Jay Curran to the action. The persistence and non stop running of Curran and the strength and aerial ability of Antoine caused the Urchins’ defence all sorts of problems and was instrumental in winning the game for the Gulls.

Hornchurch though dominated the first half and Canvey were lucky not to be at least 2-0 down at half time.

Their defending from set pieces was often shoddy and up front Simon Parker and Ross Wall for Hornchurch were given far too much space at times.

The Urchins started brightly with Fiston Manuella, Elliott Styles and Andy Tomlinson looking combative in midfield and Mark Janney showing some quality touches on occasions.

After 2 minutes, former Chelmsford player Manuella fired high and wide from 25 yards after a loose clearance fell to him.

Canvey responded with Danny Curran going close at the other end. David Lee played a fine free kick to the far post from the right wing but Curran could only volley over from a few yards out.

Hornchurch took the lead on 15 minutes. Lee Brown’s long ball down the right found Janney who did well to find space and pass to Parker just inside the penalty area. The forward turned and fired his shot home off the inside of the post beyond keeper Mel Capleton.

Hornchurch were by far the better side now and were constantly asking questions of the Canvey defence.

Gabriel Fanibuyan was booked for a robust challenge on Jon Purdie on 22 minutes and then a great pass by Tomlinson released Parker down the left wing. Parker played in a fine low driven cross but it just eluded Wall as the ball fizzed across the goalmouth.

Canvey came back with Andrew West doing well to get down the right and sending over a cross that Curran headed high and wide of the goal on 28 minutes.

The Gulls were lucky not to be 2-0 down 5 minutes later when Manuella got his head to a Purdie free kick just before Capleton. As the ball rolled towards the empty net, former Hornchurch defender Chris Moore did well to get across and make a last ditch clearance off the line.

From the resulting corner, Styles headed Tomlinson’s right wing kick inches wide.

Canvey had created very little up until now with Urchins’ keeper Dale Brightley having very little to do. Leon Gordon did get on the end of another excellent delivery from Lee’s left wing free kick on 42 minutes but he headed just wide at the far post.

On the stroke of half time, Hornchurch should have extended their lead when Styles rode a number of challenges down the left and played a cross in to Parker who got a toe to the ball but his effort came back off of the post and was cleared to safety much to the relief of the Canvey defence.

Canvey could have no complaints about the half time score-line and Hornchurch continued where they left off with Parker bursting through just after half time but Capleton did well to come out and deflect the ball away for a corner.

Gradually, Canvey came back into the contest and with Craig Davidson and Tarkan Mustafa becoming an increasing influence in the midfield, they started to gain far more possession and put the Hornchurch defence under some pressure.

Lee curled a free kick over the bar from 25 yards on 51 minutes and then two minutes later, Curran showed good skill down the right to bamboozle the defender and then find Fanibuyan whose volley lacked power and dropped wide of the target.

Hornchurch came back though with Janney drilling a shot from the right hand edge of the penalty area just wide of the far post and then the impressive Styles got on the end of Tomlinson’s left wing corner but sent a towering header just over the crossbar.

Davidson was beginning to push forward from his position in defensive midfield and might have grabbed an equaliser on 61 minutes. Mustafa and Curran combined down the right and Mustafa put in a high swirling cross that Brightley came for but failed to hold. The ball dropped to the Canvey skipper at the far post but Brightley did superbly to block his close range shot.

The game turned moments later with the introduction of Jay Curran for his brother Danny and Antoine for Ryan Oliva as Canvey changed their formation to two up front.

It was Antoine who made an instant impact playing a big part in Canvey’s equalising goal on 67 minutes. West put in another superb swirling cross from the right that drew Brightley off of his line. Under extreme pressure from Antoine, the keeper could only punch the ball away and Davidson was there to pick the loose ball up and fire a low shot from inside the area into the net to spark wild celebrations amongst the home support.

The Canvey supporters barely had time to draw breath when from Lee’s fine delivery from a left wing corner, Antoine was there to poke home from close range to score his first competitive goal for the club and give Canvey a 2-1 lead.

The game continued in frenetic style with Hornchurch equalising a minute later when Wall was fouled in the area by Ben Patten and the referee awarded a penalty. For the third time running in this fixture, Mark Janney stepped up to send Capleton the wrong way and fire his penalty high into the net to level the match.

Hornchurch moments later sent on Donny Barnard and Kris Lee who scored a spectacular winning goal in the last fixture between the two sides at Bridge Avenue two seasons ago.

It was Canvey though who were still looking the better team and went ahead again on 75 minutes. It was yet another superb set piece by former Urchins’ player Lee that proved Hornchurch’s undoing. Lee’s left wing kick found Jay Curran who managed to escape his marker in the six yard box and he did well to flick a powerful header into the top corner of the net to send the home support delirious once again.

Hornchurch were stunned and nearly conceded again moments later when Brightley did well to save at Curran’s feet after another right wing cross had put him under pressure.

Davidson then flashed a left wing effort across the goalmouth but with time running out it was Hornchurch who were forced to push forward in numbers.

Styles headed over again and then a cross from the right by Purdie fell to Kris Lee at the far post but his weakly struck volley was smothered gratefully by Capleton.

Davidson volleyed high and wide on 85 minutes after a right wing cross dropped to him just outside the area and the Canvey captain continued to demonstrate an unbelievable work rate as one minute he was joining the attack to create a goal scoring opportunity and then the next, he was back helping in defence.

Jay Curran could have eased Canvey’s nerves in the second minute of injury time when he was sent through on goal but fired his shot into the side netting.

The whistle went shortly afterwards to end a memorable game and seal a superb victory for the Gulls that lifts them into the play off places.

Canvey are next in competitive action a week on Saturday when high flying Staines Town pay Park Lane a visit in what should be another exciting fixture.

Oysterfleet Man of the Match:

CRAIG DAVIDSON:  A true captain’s performance. Was outstanding in driving the team on and his equalising goal proved to be the turning point in the game.

Match Report by David Powell.