Match Report

Canvey Island’s fine recent run of results continued with an impressive 3-1 victory over Tooting & Mitcham at Park Lane.

Gulls produced another entertaining display in front of a crowd of just under 400 and remain in 5th in the Ryman Premier League.

Despite making a sluggish start that saw them go behind in the first 20 minutes, Gulls battled back to lead 3-1 at half time and then held out to seal the three points in the second half in what was a good all round team performance.

Tooting did start brightly with new loan signing from AFC Wimbledon, Chris Sullivan, looking lively on the left wing and top scorer Paul Vines a threat up front.

Canvey had a scoring chance on 9 minutes when Tooting keeper Dave King made a horrendous error under pressure from Leon Antoine. His miscued clearance fell to Antoine but he saw his shot deflected just wide.

Gulls then went behind on 19 minutes. Some sloppy defending allowed Sullivan to get through down the left hand side of the area and he was able to place a low shot beyond the onrushing Ricky Wiseman and into the corner of the net.

Canvey to their credit made a marvellous response, equalising within two minutes. King made another ‘Heurelho Gomes’ like error as Antoine was quick to close him down whilst in possession. His weak clearance fell to Stuart Ainsley nearly 35 yards from goal but Ainsley had the precense of mind and skill to lob a fantastic effort that bounced into the empty net.

Canvey were up and running. Kevin Dobinson was booked for a crude tackle but the Gulls were beginning to open up the Tooting defence with the pace of Ainsley, Antoine and Gabriel Fanibuyan a near constant threat.

Canvey were gifted a goal to give them the lead on 28 minutes. King completely misjudged Ainsley’s corner as it curled in from the right and could only punch the ball straight to Chris Moore who volleyed home from close range at the far post.

Canvey were playing some excellent football now and could have gone further ahead on 30 minutes. Antoine broke down the left and played in a low driven cross that found Jon Edwards at the near post. Edwards did well to shield the ball and lay it back to Craig Davidson who fired just over the crossbar from the left hand edge of the penalty area.

Tooting still looked a threat and the skill of Sullivan carved out a chance for Paul Vines on 33 minutes but he poked a left wing cross wide of the far post.

It was to prove to be a costly miss as 4 minutes later, Canvey increased their lead. Ainsley showed great skill and tenacity to break past a couple of tackles and burst through on goal. King did well to block his shot but the rebound fell to Davidson on the left hand side of the area. Davidson could have gone for goal himself but showed great awareness to lay the ball back to Edwards who fired a low volley into the corner of the net.

Canvey were 3-1 up but could have conceded moments later when Vines darted through but fired wide of the far post.

An exciting game continued with Dobinson firing an instinctive volley on the turn that King held well at a stretch on 41 minutes.

The Gulls lead 3-1 at half time and continued to play the better football in the second half. Edwards, Davidson and Dobinson were all having fine games in the midfield whilst Antoine’s hard work and constant running was a real irritation to the Tooting defence.

Fanibuyan nearly got a sight on goal after a good passing move but couldn’t quite direct the ball on goal.
Tooting gradually came back into the game though and started to create some opportunities. On 68 minutes, a low driven cross from the left caused a scramble in the six yard box but a combination of Wiseman and Chris Moore were able to get the ball away as it bounced near the goal line.

A minute later, Vines showed some great skill to dart past Moore and Andrew West but Wiseman came out to brilliantly block his effort.

Wiseman was called into action again a few moments later when he dived full length to his left to keep out Matt York’s powerfully driven free kick from the edge of the area.

Canvey replaced Antoine with Ian Luck with nine minutes to go and Tooting brought on former Southend striker Ben Abbey who scored the winning goal against Canvey for the Shrimpers in the FA Cup nearly 8 years ago.

By now the Gulls had weathered this period of pressure with Tarkan Mustafa, Richard Halle and Moore once again having impressive games.

York fired a free kick inches over the crossbar with two minutes to go but Canvey completed the final minutes quite comfortably to hold out for another excellent victory.

Canvey are in league action next weekend when they travel to bottom of the table Heybridge Swifts.

Oysterfleet Man of the Match:

JON EDWARDS: A classy and hardworking performance in midfield. Grabbed his first competitive goal for Canvey.

Match Report by David Powell.