Match Report

Canvey Island picked up their fourth win in 5 games with a 3-2 victory over Heybridge Swifts at Scraley Road. After a scrappy first half which saw the Gulls 1-0 down at half time, Canvey raised their game in the second half and in the end deserved their victory.

Swifts are struggling at the bottom of the division but battled hard and produced a spirited performance and certainly Canvey had to work hard for their victory.

The game was delayed for nearly half an hour as the linesmen were late in arriving at the ground due to being stuck in heavy traffic.

Swifts featured former Canvey winger Chris Bourne in their starting line up and when the game kicked off, Canvey started positively with Gabriel Fanibuyan testing Swifts’ keeper Ollie Morris-Sanders with a low shot from outside the area.

Canvey though seemed to be missing the influence of the injured Kevin Dobinson in midfield and it was Swifts who created the better chances in a dour first half.

On 7 minutes, good play by Billy Hawes and Neil Cousins saw James Robinson get on the end of a right wing cross at the far post but he blazed his shot high and wide of the goal.

Ricky Wiseman in the Canvey goal had to be alert to deflect a cross shot from the left wide for a corner as Canvey struggled to make an impact in the game.

Leon Antoine was working hard up front but Canvey were finding it difficult to get into their natural rhythm. When they did get the ball down on the floor and pass it, they looked very dangerous with Jon Edwards and Stuart Ainsley particularly impressive.

Robinson got on the end of another right wing cross at the far post on 30 minutes but could only head straight at Wiseman.

Canvey gradually started to settle and Edwards tested Morris-Sanders with a shot from outside the area that the keeper held comfortably on 37 minutes.

Four minutes later, Ainsley showed great skill to trick his way past a couple of defenders as he worked an opening down the left hand side of the penalty area but his shot was weak and saved easily by the keeper.

Swifts ended the half positively though by grabbing the opening goal. Wiseman had to save at his near post after Gulls failed to clear a left wing cross and from the resulting right wing corner by Hawes, Gary Hill headed home at the near post via the underside of the crossbar.

Heybridge lead at half time but Canvey manager John Batch must have given his side a stern talking to at half time as the Gulls came out for the second half full of renewed attacking vigour.

They could have gone 2-0 down on 52 minutes when a good break down the right by Hawes saw his cross fall to an unmarked Robinson at the far post but Wiseman was out quickly to make a fine block with his legs.

Two minutes later, Canvey were level. Ollie Thorne brought down Edwards in the penalty area with a clumsy challenge and Craig Davidson stepped up to fire home past Morris-Sanders into the corner of the net.

With a heavy rain shower starting to make the pitch rather wet and greasy, Canvey started to use this to their advantage and play some fine passing football.

Ainsley was looking a growing threat down the left and it was some fine wing play by him on 57 minutes that provided Canvey with their second goal.

Ainsley dribbled past a defender down the left and played in a fine cross that Fanibuyan headed home powerfully at the near post.

Canvey were further ahead 7 minutes later with Ainsley again a big influence in the goal.

Ainsley broke down the left wing and played in a low cross that both the keeper and Swifts’ defender Matt Cutchey failed to cut out. The ball fell to Fanibuyan who had a simple tap in, into the empty net from two yards out.

Heybridge suffered a further blow when Adam Passfield who only a few minutes earlier had come on as a substitute, was stretchered off injured.

Canvey replaced Antoine with Jay Curran with 15 minutes remaining and Curran was soon involved in the action.

On 80 minutes, Fanibuyan broke through the middle and released Curran with a great pass. Morris-Sanders did well to get down and save his shot.

Moments later, Curran got down the left and played in a good cross that Fanibuyan couldn’t quite get a toe to in the middle.

Swifts to their credit never gave up and continued to battle. Wiseman did well to keep out a free kick from the left wing but Swifts grabbed a lifeline with a goal three minutes from time.

Robinson did well to go past Tarkan Mustafa down the left wing and his cross was fired home by Cousins at the near post.

It was too little too late for Swifts though and Canvey regained their composure to see the remaining few minutes out fairly comfortably.

Canvey are now up to 4th place in the Ryman Premier League and are in action next weekend when they travel to Horsham where they’ll be looking to avenge a 4-2 opening day defeat.

Yellow’s Man of the Match:

GABRIEL FANIBUYAN:   Grabbed two goals in a fine display.

Match Report by David Powell.