Match Report

Canvey Island went down to another disappointing defeat this time losing 3-1 against Tooting & Mitcham at Imperial Fields.

Canvey dominated much of the first half but again were made to pay for not taking their chances and some extremely sloppy defending at times.

Certainly Gulls created the better chances in the opening 45 minutes.

Richard Halle fired over the crossbar from long range on 5 minutes and then Tooting keeper Dave King held Jay Curran’s curling shot from the edge of the area.

Dean McDonald came close for Tooting with a shot on the turn that flashed wide but then Curran could have given Canvey the lead on 25 minutes when he chased a high hanging pass in the penalty area, got to the ball just before King but saw his poked effort end up the wrong side of the post.

Dean Hamlin and Curran were both booked moments later after they tussled for the ball and Canvey continued to create the better opportunities.

Some good build up play by Curran and Leon Antoine saw the ball worked to Gabriel Fanibuyan but he curled his shot high over the crossbar from inside the penalty area on 27 minutes.

Eight minutes later, a flicked header by Curran found Antoine in space on the right hand side of the area but he sent an angled volley inches over the crossbar.

Tooting responded moments later when Mel Capleton had to be alert to stretch to tip away Paul Vines’ curling shot on goal.

Tooting though grabbed the opening goal on 45 minutes. Some hesitancy in the Gulls’ defence saw McDonald break through down the right hand side of the area and drill a low shot across Capleton and into the bottom corner of the net.

Worse was to follow for Canvey soon after half time when Frankie Everett allowed a long ball down the middle to bounce and Vines nipped in to send an emphatic volley from just inside the area beyond Capleton and into the net.

Canvey now had a mountain to climb to get back into the game and Tooting at this stage looked capable of scoring a third.

Canvey replaced Fanibuyan with Steve Corbell on 70 minutes and moments later they rather unexpectedly got back into the game.

Curran chased a long ball and managed to beat the keeper to send the ball rolling across the goal mouth. Leon Gordon came in at the far post to fire the ball into the empty net for his 13th league goal of the season.

The goal failed to really galvanise Canvey and Tooting came close to extending their lead three minutes later. Capleton made a fine block with his feet to save from the forward and Chris Moore managed to throw his body in the way of the rebound to prevent a goal.

McDonald then dragged a shot wide of the goal after working himself an opening on the edge of the penalty area a few minutes later.

Canvey brought on Ben Patten and Ian Luck for the remaining 7 minutes and Corbell had a free kick near the edge of the area blocked by the defensive wall before Tooting sealed the game with three minutes remaining.

Vines broke through the offside trap and calmly slipped his shot beyond Capleton and into the net.
Curran volleyed just too high and wide on 89 minutes as Canvey looked for a consolation goal and Tooting had a header from a corner cleared off of the line in stoppage time.

The game finished 3-1 in Tooting’s favour and this was another rather jaded performance from Canvey who slip down to 13th in the table.

Gulls will attempt to finish the season on a high next Saturday when they play already relegated Heybridge Swifts in their final game of the season.

Oysterfleet Man of the Match:

LEON ANTOINE: His height and strength was often a danger to the Tooting defence.