Match Report

Canvey Island suffered a 4-1 defeat at the hands of Conference South Chelmsford City at Park Lane in their 2nd pre season friendly.

Jeff King and many of his players and staff were making their first visit to Park Lane since their departure two years ago and they produced a classy display that suggests they’ll be favourites for promotion from Conference South this season.

Canvey battled well though hitting the woodwork on a couple of occasions and forcing keeper Danny Gay into some good saves.

Canvey started brightly with Leon Gordon sending a looping header over the bar after good work down the left by Ian Luck. Moments later, new signing Leon Antoine out-muscled a defender as he chased a through ball and forced Gay to turn away his powerful shot for a corner.

Canvey lost their impetus when Antoine was forced off with an injury after 14 minutes and a minute later Chelmsford were in front. Bertie Brayley latched on to some indecision in the Gulls’ defence and showed a cool head to round Ricky Wiseman and fire home.

It could have been worse 10 minutes later when a left wing cross by Jon Keeling found Ricky Holmes unmarked in the centre of the area but Wiseman reacted superbly to turn his goal-bound shot away.

Canvey though were not closing down their opponents quick enough giving Chelmsford time and space to play their neat passing game. With Dave Rainford and Kevin James starting to pull the strings in midfield, they added a second on 33 minutes.

Brayley raced on to a through pass and sent an emphatic finish beyond Wiseman from inside the area.
James added a third on 38 minutes finishing off some neat build up play with an angled shot from the right hand side of the area.

Brayley nearly claimed his hat-trick just before half time but his cheeky lob from the edge of the area was flicked on to the bar by Wiseman with James scuffing the rebound straight into the keeper’s grateful arms.

Canvey made several changes at half time bringing on George Blewer, Gabriel Fanibuyan and Jon Edwards. Again they started the half brightly with Jay Curran firing a snapshot inches wide from the edge of the area on 50 minutes.

Gordon then was unlucky not to score 4 minutes later when Edwards played him in but Gay got enough on his shot to turn the ball on to the crossbar. Chelmsford sent on former Southend youngster James Lawson on 61 minutes and within 2 minutes he had made it 4-0 when he headed home a left wing cross at the far post.

Wiseman had to make a fine double save to prevent a fifth goal but Canvey to their credit kept battling until the end. Richard Halle sent a header over from a right wing free kick on 75 minutes and moments later Canvey got their reward with a goal.

Jay Curran was dragged back in the box by Andy Duncan and from the resulting penalty, Curran stepped up to fire home past Gay.

Curran may have added a second goal moments before the end when he did well to get the better of Steve Ward in the area but his chipped shot came back off the underside of the bar and was cleared to safety.

A disappointing result for Canvey but there were enough positives from this game to suggest they will hold their own in the Ryman Premier.

Yellow’s Man of the Match:

RICKY WISEMAN: Made some excellent saves and looked confident in goal.

Match Report by David Powell.