Match Report

Canvey Island picked up their first point of the season with a spirited goal-less draw against Maidstone United at Bourne Park.

Certainly the Gulls could have walked away with all three points as Richard Halle had a first half penalty saved.

Canvey suffered a blow before kick off with Andrew West suffering an injury in the pre match warm up. Craig Davidson came into the line up to replace him.

After a poor defensive display against Horsham in their previous game, Canvey were determined to make amends and they did this with a solid defensive performance in which Ben Patten in particular was outstanding.

The former Ipswich youngster making his first competitive start for Canvey had a composed game at the back clearing the danger on numerous occasions.

Canvey started brightly against a Maidstone side that featured former Arsenal midfielder Ian Selley and experienced ex Gillingham and Burnley defender Ian Cox. They could have taken the lead after 7 minutes when Leon Antoine burst down the right and crossed for Gabriel Fanibuyan who couldn’t quite get a connection on the ball at the far post with the goal gaping.

Maidstone responded with Elliott Bradbrook heading a Nathan Paul cross off target.

Canvey were looking lively in the opening 10 minutes and Leon Gordon sent Antoine through but he tripped at the vital moment allowing keeper Andy Walker to save comfortably.

On 12 minutes, some fine play by Bradbrook saw him run at the defence from the right hand side and try and curl a shot from just inside the area that took a slight deflection and just went wide of the post.

Maidstone were starting to test the Canvey defence now and on 16 minutes, Lloyd Blackman chased a long ball from Jay Saunders and fired in a half volley that Ricky Wiseman did well to parry. The young keeper then showed excellent reactions to claim the loose ball.

Canvey came back at Maidstone and won a free kick around 25 yards out on 19 minutes. David Lee’s fierce effort was beaten away by Walker.

Four minutes later and Canvey had the perfect chance to take the lead. A right wing corner caused havoc in the penalty area as Maidstone failed to clear and a goal bound shot was handled by Saunders.

The referee had no option but to award the penalty and caution Saunders. Halle stepped up but Walker dived to his left to keep the spot kick out.

Canvey were to suffer another blow 7 minutes later when Antoine was forced off the field with an injury. He was replaced by Jay Curran.

Canvey seemed to lose some of their impetus with this change but Maidstone failed to exploit this and the half came to an end with neither side creating any further opportunities.

Maidstone started the second half the brighter side and Nathan Paul was starting to create problems for the Canvey defence down the left flank with his pace and direct running.

On 53 minutes, a Kevin Watson header was scrambled clear and from the resulting left wing corner, Saunders arrived at the far post to head fractionally over the bar.

This was Maidstone’s best spell of the game and Bradbrook should have done better on 56 minutes when a loose clearance fell to him on the edge of the area but he screwed his shot wide.

On 65 minutes, Paul tested Wiseman with a low drive that the keeper did well to parry at his near post after Watson’s deep right wing cross dropped to him.

Chris Moore was looking Canvey’s main threat from set pieces and he got on the end of a right wing corner but watched the ball sail harmlessly wide.

Ian Luck replaced Fanibuyan who had a quiet game and Luck’s pace gave Canvey a bit more purpose as they edged the final ten minutes.

Canvey did have a nervous moment on 76 minutes when Paul went on a fantastic run down the left that took him past several defenders including Patten who had looked virtually unbeatable all evening. Paul crossed into the middle where a combination of Kevin Dobinson and Ricky Wiseman managed to prevent the danger before Blackman could reach the ball.

Canvey though finished strongly. Walker had to turn a swirling right wing free kick by Lee over the bar on 83 minutes and then two minutes from the end, Jay Curran found half a yard of space in the box and fired in a shot on the turn that deflected just wide.

With virtually the last kick of the game, Luck stormed down the left wing and fired in a speculative low drive that Walker held well at his near post.

Canvey had to settle for a point but this was a good display and a much improved defensive performance after the debacle against Horsham.

Gulls travel to Kent again on Saturday when they visit Margate.

Oysterfleet’s Man of the Match:

BEN PATTEN:   Superb display in the centre of the defence, reading the game well and showing a cool head at times.

Match Report by David Powell.