Match Report

Canvey Island suffered another poor result going down to a 3-1 defeat against relegation threatened Harlow Town at Park Lane.

In front of a crowd of just over 300, Gulls produced a disappointing performance and were second best for much of this game.

Harlow dominated the first half and although Canvey played better after the break they were made to pay for a sloppy defensive performance with at least two of the Harlow goals coming from defensive errors.

The Hawks started well creating the first scoring opportunity of the game after 5 minutes when Jamie Richards curled a low shot just wide of the far post from the right hand edge of the penalty area.

Richard Halle responded for Canvey a few minutes later by heading wide at the far post from Leon Gordon’s left wing corner but Harlow were by far the better side and Ricky Wiseman in the Canvey goal was kept very busy during the first half.

Tarkan Mustafa and Chris Ellerbeck were booked for an altercation on 14 minutes and four minutes later Harlow really should have taken the lead.

Michael Bardle fired in a free kick from the right hand edge of the area that Wiseman managed to beat away but straight to Ellerbeck who contrived to poke his effort wide of an open goal from close range.

The movement of Ellerbeck, Richards and John Frendo was causing the Canvey defence plenty of problems and Wiseman had to be alert on 27 minutes when Tom Bruno found space on the right of the penalty area and cracked in a shot that the keeper saved well at his near post.

Wiseman excelled moments later when from the resulting corner, Canvey failed to clear their lines convincingly and he was forced into an instinctive save to deny the forward from close range.

Canvey’s defence was struggling badly to contain Harlow and after Frendo had caught Stuart Ainsley in possession, The Hawks broke through on goal again. Wiseman spread himself well to block from the forward but the rebound fell to Ellerbeck and with just the keeper to beat, he again fired wide when he should have at least hit the target.

On 33 minutes, Harlow took the lead. Wiseman raced from his goal to clear a long ball towards the right flank but under pressure from Richards he mis-kicked the ball straight to the Harlow striker. Richards showed great composure to lob the ball over Wiseman and into the net.

Canvey did respond well though and a Hawks’ defender had to make a great block at the far post after Leon Antoine nearly got his head on the end of a fine right wing cross from Mustafa.

At half time, Canvey were behind but they started the second half positively with both Ainsley and Craig Davidson firing high over the crossbar.

Canvey had a penalty shout when Jay Curran’s header from a Mustafa cross appeared to come off a Harlow defender’s hand.

Antoine had another penalty appeal turned down when he bustled his way into the area but went down under the challenge of a Harlow defender.

On 58 minutes, The Gulls thought they had grabbed an equaliser when Curran challenged keeper James Hassell and the loose ball fell to Antoine who calmly stroked the ball home from the edge of the area. The referee ruled the ‘goal’ out as he judged that Curran’s foot was too high as he challenged the keeper.

On 64 minutes, Harlow extended their lead. Ellerbeck chased a long high ball down the middle and took advantage of some indecision by Wiseman to beat the keeper to the ball and fire home.

Worse was to follow for Canvey four minutes later when Harlow grabbed a superb third goal. A loose clearance fell to Bruno around 25 yards from goal and he fired home a cracking first time volley that gave Wiseman no chance.

Canvey attempted to change things around by replacing Ainsley and Davidson with Steve Corbell and Chris Moore.

Corbell was to prove influential in Canvey’s consolation goal on 72 minutes. The midfielder lifted a fine free kick from the right into the penalty area that Gordon got his head to with the ball bouncing into the net via the post.

Harlow had played a league game against Ashford Town Middlesex only 48 hours previously and they started to tire a little in the last 15 minutes as Canvey forced them back.

Twice in a minute, Canvey had strong shouts for a penalty after handball offences.

On 75 minutes, Curran hooked Gordon’s right wing cross up into the air and Antoine got his head to the ball but his goal-bound effort appeared to strike the hand of a Harlow player as it went out for a corner.

Seconds later and the referee had to turn down strong penalty appeals after a header appeared to be blocked by a Harlow hand.

Antoine’s height and persistence was beginning to cause the Harlow defence some problems and some great strength and a fine turn and pass nearly found Curran but his first touch was poor and the ball rolled through to Hasssell on 80 minutes.

Canvey replaced Curran with Ian Luck but the game was by now starting to slip away from them.

Ellerbeck was shown a second yellow card for a petty off the ball incident on 85 minutes and Halle had the ball in the net again moments later from Gordon’s left wing free kick but the goal was ruled out as Halle used his hand to guide the ball towards the goal.

Despite their pressure, Canvey were unable to reduce the deficit further and went down to a disappointing 3-1 defeat.

Gulls are now in action next weekend when they travel to Hertfordshire to play Boreham Wood.

Oysterfleet Man of the Match:

LEON ANTOINE:  Another powerful performance from the centre forward. His height and strength was always a threat to the Harlow defence.

Match Report by David Powell.