Match Report

Canvey Island suffered a narrow 1-0 defeat to Ryman Premier League leaders Ashford Town Middlesex at Short Lane.

Ashford have made a fine start to the season and they made it 5 wins out of 5 games in a poor match of very few clear cut scoring opportunities.

The Gulls failed to find any real rhythm in this game and on far too many occasions resorted to long aimless balls in an attempt to unlock an Ashford defence that gave very little away.

As a result, the Canvey midfield of Tarkan Mustafa, David Lee and Richard Halle who have been so influential in recent games failed to get a grip on proceedings and were rarely able to get involved in this match.

Despite the hard work of Leon Gordon down the right, Canvey rarely tested Paul Burgess in the Ashford goal and Jay Curran often looked an isolated figure as he battled hard up front on his own with very little support at times.

Canvey did start brightly though with Chris Moore heading off target from Gordon’s left wing corner on 5 minutes.

Ashford though began to settle and edged much of the first half.

Paul Johnson tested Ricky Wiseman with an effort from a Ricky Wellard corner.

Billy Jeffrey really should have given Ashford the lead on 15 minutes but with the goal gaping he headed a right wing free kick from Johnson inches wide of the post when it looked easier to hit the target.

Johnson was becoming a growing influence for Ashford down the left wing and he tried his luck from 25 yards on 26 minutes but watched his effort sail high and wide of Ricky Wiseman’s goal.

Scott Harris and Byron Harrison up front for Ashford were becoming something of a nuisance to the Canvey defence and it was Harrison who opened the scoring on 32 minutes after breaking on to a long throw by Adam Logie through the middle and running on to fire past Wiseman and into the roof of the net.

Canvey responded by attacking the Ashford goal but although Leon Gordon got into some good positions, The Gulls got very little change out of a well organised Ashford defence.

The Tangerines continued to look the better team at the start of the second half as Canvey continued to look sluggish.

Some good play by Wellard and Johnson saw Ricardo Joseph released down the flank but his fine cross just eluded Harris in the penalty area.

Then a good pass by Logie saw Harris break down the right hand edge of the penalty area on 54 minutes. Instead of shooting, Harris elected to unselfishly cross the ball but his effort fizzed across the goal mouth with nobody quite able to get a touch.

Only some good defending by the Canvey back four was preventing Ricky Wiseman from having any real shots to save.

Harrison was causing the Canvey backline some problems with his pace and he did well to get past Moore and cross from the right but he saw the ball cleared well.

Gordon offered some response from Canvey when he broke through but took too long to shoot with the ball eventually being cleared.

Johnson curled an effort wide from the edge of the area on 66 minutes before Canvey decided to change things by bringing on Ian Luck for Ryan Oliva.

Luck’s pace and directness immediately gave the Ashford defence some problems and Canvey started to win a number of set pieces in good positions.

Curran saw an effort cleared off of the line on 82 minutes by Johnson after a right wing corner had created a scramble in the box.

Ashford still looked dangerous on the break and substitute Gavin Smith had the ball in the net on 86 minutes but saw his effort ruled out for offside.

A minute later, Jon Palmer got on the end of a left wing cross at the near post but steered the ball wide of the goal.

There was drama to come in the dying minutes when Canvey thought they had grabbed an equaliser. Jay Curran headed home a Mustafa cross from the right but Canvey celebrations were cut short by the linesman’s flag as he judged Curran to be in an offside position.

The whistle went shortly afterwards to end a disappointing afternoon for Canvey.

They will look to make amends with a home game against Tonbridge Angels on Tuesday night.

Yellow’s Man of the Match:

LEON GORDON: Looked the one real goal threat and worked hard down the right wing.

Match Report by David Powell.