Match Report

Canvey Island began their FA Trophy campaign with a 1-1 draw against Southern League Premier Division Cambridge City at Milton Road.

Canvey’s reward is a replay at Park Lane on Tuesday night and they thoroughly deserved this result for a workmanlike performance.

The game took a while to get going but both sides contributed to an exciting and open second half that either side could have won.

City featured ex Canvey players Neil Midgley and Dave Theobald in their starting line up whilst for Canvey, Gabriel Fanibuyan made a welcome return to the team after serving a three game suspension.

The first half was lively but neither side created much in the way of goal-scoring chances.

City created the first opportunity after 7 minutes when the ball dropped to Stephen Smith just inside the penalty area. His low shot appeared to be heading for the corner of the net but Wiseman did brilliantly to dive to his left and get down and push the effort away.

Ben Patten was booked for a clumsy challenge on 14 minutes but both Patten and Chris Moore were solid at the back keeping City forwards Midgley and Ramon Calliste very quiet.

It was Canvey who dominated much of the possession with Richard Halle and Craig Davidson scrapping away in midfield and Fanibuyan looking a lively precense just behind lone forward Jay Curran.

Despite some good build up play at times it was just their final ball in to the penalty area that was lacking. The Gulls put keeper Zac Barrett under some pressure from corners and free kicks but for the most part he and the City defence dealt with this well.

If the first half lacked excitement then the second half was a much different affair with the play constantly going from end to end and both sides creating chances.

Just a minute into the half, Scott Neilson weaved his way into the box and fired in a low shot that Wiseman held well.

Canvey responded immediately with Leon Gordon breaking down the right wing and putting in a decent cross that Curran poked wide at the near post under pressure from Theobald.

Canvey had their best chance on 54 minutes. Gordon again did well down the right and laid the ball back to Fanibuyan who seemed to have the simple task of firing home from a few yards out.

Somehow, City defender Sam Nunn threw himself in front of the ball to block Fanibuyan’s effort on the line.

Three minutes later, Canvey had the reward that their pressure deserved. Steve Corbell drifted in a right wing corner and Moore rose to send a towering header into the back of the net.

Canvey’s confidence rose visibly and with both Fanibuyan and Gordon causing the City defence some headaches, they looked to extend their lead.

Some great play by Fanibuyan set up a chance for Curran but Stephen Smith did well to get a block on his attempted shot.

City pushed forward in an attempt to find an equaliser but Canvey’s backline of Moore, Patten, Tarkan Mustafa and Andrew West were proving to be hard to break through.

City replaced Calliste and Ashley Fuller with Danny Spendlove and Matt Haniver and this seemed to give them some new impetus.

On 69 minutes, they grabbed an equaliser. Neil Sharp got up between two defenders to get on the end of a cross from deep on the right from Haniver to head down and into the bottom corner of the net beyond Wiseman.

Canvey were rocked but came back immediately with Curran heading Gordon’s right wing cross into the side netting at the far post.

Canvey replaced Corbell with Leon Antoine as they went to two up front but it was City who could twice have snatched the lead in the following few minutes.

Lee Chaffey got his head to a left wing corner on 73 minutes but his looping header was headed off the line brilliantly by Mustafa as it seemed to be heading for the top corner of the net.

From the resulting left wing corner, Sharp flicked a header just wide of the far post.

Canvey regained their composure and looked the more likely to snatch a winner. Antoine made a nuisance of himself nearly getting on the end of a through pass before Barrett.

Fanibuyan then saw another effort cleared off of the line on 80 minutes when Davidson’s free kick into the area deflected into his path. His well placed shot from the edge of the area looked destined for the net but was headed off of the line.

A minute later, Curran got on the end of a lofted pass into the penalty area but although he turned his marker well, he dragged his shot from the right hand edge of the area wide of the far post.

City replaced Midgley with Lee Roache but although both teams continued to attack until the final whistle neither side could find the winning goal.

So, both sides will have to do it again on Tuesday night at Park Lane and certainly Gulls will be heartened by a hardworking and at times skilful performance.

Oysterfleet Man of the Match:

BEN PATTEN:  One of Canvey’s unsung heroes this season. Was outstanding again at the back.

Match Report by David Powell.