Match Report

Canvey Island went down to a late goal to lose 1-0 against Sutton United at Gander Green Lane.
Sutton edged this contest and Mel Capleton was the busier of the two keepers but Canvey will feel they did enough to gain a point.

A last gasp goal by young striker Billy Dunn who had come on as a substitute ten minutes earlier gave Sutton the three points in front of a 500 plus crowd.

Canvey started the game wearing Sutton’s away kit of green and white quartered shirts after forgetting to pack their white away strip and soon found themselves under some early pressure from the Sutton forwards.

Gavin McCallum headed wide at the far post after a left wing free kick was flicked on to him on 6 minutes and then moments later, the lively Matt Hann cut in from the right and forced Capleton to make a low save at his near post.

Canvey gradually settled with Jay Curran working hard up front and David Lee, Craig Davidson and Kevin Dobinson getting stuck in, in the midfield.

Some good play by Gabriel Fanibuyan and Lee on the left hand side of the penalty area set up a shooting chance for Davidson on 14 minutes but Sutton defender Alan Bray did well to block his goal-bound shot.

Six minutes later, Leon Gordon provided an excellent cross from the right wing that Fanibuyan was inches away from getting to at the far post.

After this spell of pressure, it was Sutton’s turn to dominate and they began to show why many have predicted them to be favourites to do well this season.

On 25 minutes, Hann got down the right and played in a good cross that McCallum met with a first time volley at the near post. Capleton did brilliantly to turn the shot on to the underside of the crossbar.

Two minutes later, Hann should have done better when he found space on the left hand side of the area but dragged his shot wide of the far post.

Both McCallum and Hann were causing problems down the flanks and with Craig Dundas providing a good presence up front by holding the ball up and winning headers, Canvey found themselves under some pressure.

Ben Patten did superbly on 30 minutes to get in the way of Gavin Heeroo’s shot that seemed destined for the net and with both him and Chris Moore looking resolute at the back, the Gulls saw out the rest of the half with no further problems.

Sutton though started the second half positively and thought they had taken the lead on 50 minutes.
Defender Karim El Salahi got on the end of Adam Wilde’s free kick from the right to send a powerful header towards goal. McCallum standing near the goal-line made sure the ball was over the line but the referee judged that he was standing in an offside position so ruled the goal out.

Sutton were enjoying a good spell of pressure now and Patten was again in the right place to clear an effort as it bounced towards goal.

McCallum continued to torment the Canvey defence and on 60 minutes he did superbly to bring a right wing cross down and get in an effort that forced Capleton to scramble the ball around the post for a corner.

Up until now Canvey had done little to test former Chelmsford and Heybridge keeper Paul Nicholls in the Sutton goal. The introduction of Danny Curran making his return from injury for his brother Jay seemed to swing the game in Canvey’s favour.

Curran did superbly at times to hold the ball up and bring others into the game and his skill and persistence gave the Sutton defence plenty of headaches and Canvey a new dimension up front.

Within minutes of coming on, Curran was chasing a long ball down the left hand side of the penalty area. He managed to muscle in ahead of two defenders but his attempted lob dropped just wide of the far post.

A minute later and Canvey should have been in front. Gordon did superbly to break down the right and cut the ball back to David Lee. Lee seemed to have the easy task of firing home but leaned back and side footed his shot from 10 yards over the gaping net.

Sutton responded by missing a great chance themselves on 73 minutes. McCallum broke down the right wing but his low driven cross was poked over the bar by substitute Delando Smith when it looked easier to score.

Canvey replaced Dobinson with Andrew West on 76 minutes with Tarkan Mustafa moving into the midfield.

Curran continued to cause problems up front for Canvey and his swirling cross from the left nearly deceived Nicholls as it looped and struck the top of the crossbar. The referee judged though that the ball had already curled out of play.

Sutton came back with an effort from 25 yards on 79 minutes that just cleared the top of the crossbar but by now both sides were looking capable of taking all three points.

Curran nearly got on the end of a weak back-pass with Nicholls just getting to the ball before the striker.

With 5 minutes remaining, Fanibuyan went on a strong run towards goal but just as he reached the edge of the area it seemed as if he was felled by a Sutton defender. The referee ignored Canvey protests allowing the game to continue.

Fanibuyan’s frustration got the better of him a minute later when he was booked for a tackle out wide on the right.

Sutton brought on assistant manager and former Hornchurch player Steve West as the game approached its’ conclusion and it was Sutton who won the game with a sucker punch goal.

Canvey may feel they should have had a penalty when a defender seemed to clear the ball with his hand as Fanibuyan attempted to work his way into the penalty area.

A minute or so later, Sutton raced cleared down the left. McCallum’s low cross saw Capleton make a good reaction save from the first shot but the ball broke to Tommy Dunn and the 17 year old gleefully fired home from 2 yards out for his first senior goal.
Canvey shoved Chris Moore up front in a desperate attempt to rescue the game but despite the referee playing four minutes of injury time, they couldn’t find an equaliser.

A cruel way to lose the game but after the debacle against Dunstable in the FA Cup the previous weekend this was a much improved display by Canvey who showed plenty of spirit throughout.

Next up for the Gulls is an eagerly awaited match against old rivals AFC Hornchurch at Park Lane on Tuesday night.

Oysterfleet Man of the Match:

CHRIS MOORE:  Was a tower of strength in the heart of the defence.

Match Report by David Powell.