Match Report

Canvey Island edged through to the 4th Round of the Essex Senior Cup with a narrow 3-2 victory over Tilbury at Chadfields. Gulls made hard work of this match as they allowed a 2-0 lead to slip and needed a goal from Jay Curran to snatch victory 4 minutes from time.

Canvey looked in control for much of the first half and started brightly when a corner into the box caused havoc in the Tilbury penalty area and keeper Bobby Mason had to tip a close range volley from Chris Moore unconvincingly on to the bar and away for a corner.

Jon Edwards then fired a volley over from 20 yards out as Canvey started positively with both Tarkan Mustafa and Leon Gordon providing some of Canvey’s best moves down the right.

The Gulls went in front on 13 minutes. Mason misjudged Stuart Ainsley’s right wing corner as it swerved towards the goal and the ball went into the net off of the crossbar.

Canvey really should have extended their lead on 36 minutes when Jay Curran broke the offside trap but with just the keeper to beat he opted for the spectacular finish and fired wastefully over the bar.
Mason again looked unconvincing shortly afterwards when he spilt Curran’s shot from the edge of the area wide for a corner.

Tilbury occasionally looked a threat through the pace and skill of Rashid Kamara in midfield but rarely tested Ricky Wiseman in the Canvey goal during the first half.

A right wing corner into the Canvey penalty area caused a scramble just before half time but Moore and Ryan Oliva were able to make good blocks near the goal-line and clear the danger.

Canvey started the second half as they did the first and it looked like they had sealed the game on 48 minutes with a second goal. Curran got down the right and played a cross to the far post where Gordon got in a weak shot that somehow eluded two defenders on the line plus the goalkeeper as it trickled into the net.

Tilbury to their credit didn’t give up and were back in the game minutes later. Clinton Hodge’s shot from the edge of the area was parried by Wiseman but straight to Kamara who fired the rebound home.

After looking fairly comfortable, Canvey began to look a little nervous and Tilbury at times looked dangerous with their direct play and pace causing the Gulls’ defence all sorts of problems.

Canvey though thought they had increased their lead on 55 minutes when Moore headed home from a corner but the ‘goal’ was disallowed for a foul.

On 63 minutes, Curran volleyed wide at the near post from Edwards’ right wing corner and then Leon Antoine couldn’t quite keep his header down after getting on the end of a well delivered left wing cross from Andrew West.

Canvey should have sealed the match on 68 minutes when a fine through pass from Edwards released Gordon down the right hand edge of the area but his shot, narrowly went wide of the far post.

It looked like that miss would prove costly as three minutes later Tilbury drew level.  Jason Fontaine’s through pass sent Stephane Koffi through and he slipped the ball beyond Wiseman and into the net.

Tilbury were now looking the more likely winners as Canvey at times looked unconvincing in defence. A mis-kick in the penalty area nearly presented Canvey with the lead but with the keeper beaten the ball bounced off of the post and away.

A driven cross then flashed across the Canvey goalmouth as Tilbury tried to snatch a winner.

Just as the prospect of extra time loomed large, the Gulls sneaked a winner with three minutes to go. Leon Antoine made a superb surging run from just inside the Tilbury half, held off defender Steve Reading and laid the ball back for Curran to fire home at the near post from close range.

The goal was a relief to Canvey fans who couldn’t have been looking forward to a possible extra thirty minutes on a freezing cold night.

Canvey held out for the remaining minutes to seal victory and a place in the next round. Gulls deserved their victory but had to achieve it the hard way.

Oysterfleet Man of the Match:

LEON GORDON:   Always looked a danger down the right and scored the second goal.

Match Report by David Powell.