Match Report

Canvey Island picked up a point from a 1-1 draw with Wealdstone at Park Lane in front of a crowd of 342.

The Gulls were behind at half time but an excellent header by Jay Curran 12 minutes from time gave them a well earned point.

Wealdstone dominated much of the first half and although Canvey edged the second half, the Stones still created the better, clear cut chances and will feel perhaps they should have come away with more for their efforts.

Wealdstone started brightly creating a few opportunities in the opening 15 minutes. The lively Kieron Forbes cut in from the right wing but saw his effort on goal blocked by a defender and then on 8 minutes, Canvey keeper Ricky Wiseman fumbled a high ball into the penalty area and the loose ball fell to Greg Ngoyi who somehow thumped his close range effort against the crossbar with the goal gaping.

A minute later, Jay Curran fired an effort over the bar from the edge of the area after Craig Davidson’s free kick was partially cleared.

Wealdstone captain James Gray was booked for a late tackle on 18 minutes but it was the Stones who grabbed the lead on 27 minutes.

A long pass down the left found Wealdstone full back Lee Chappell in some space and he was able to fire an angled shot from near the edge of the area that beat Wiseman at his near post.

Canvey attacked in an attempt to grab an equaliser but despite some good play at times, their final ball into the penalty area was often lacking and too often they held on to the ball too long when a shot at goal would have been the better option.

Gabriel Fanibuyan and Leon Gordon showed some good skills and work rate at times but Canvey were struggling to really test Sean Thomas in the Wealdstone goal.

The Stones lead at half time and started the second half on the offensive. On 48 minutes, Ben Alexander did well to trick his way past Chris Moore and Ben Patten and then fire in a curling effort from the edge of the area that beat Wiseman but crashed off of the woodwork and away to safety.

A minute later, Stuart Ainsley had a shooting opportunity when good work by Curran saw the ball worked back to him but he fired an angled shot from the left hand edge of the area over the crossbar.
Some good work by Ainsley moments later saw him chase a ball down the left hand side of the area, hold off a defender and knock the ball back to Richard Halle who drilled in a low shot that Thomas held well.

Wealdstone still looked a threat on the counter attack and on occasions, Tarkan Mustafa in particular had to be alert to clear the danger when they threatened.

Canvey continued to attack and Gordon was inches away from getting his foot to the ball on 64 minutes when Halle’s deflected shot flashed tantalisingly within reach of the winger.

A few minutes later, Wiseman had to make an athletic save as he dived to his left to push a header away after Canvey had failed to deal with a corner convincingly.

Gulls decided to change things around with Ainsley going off to be replaced by Leon Antoine.
They started to exert some pressure with Antoine’s height and physical precense beginning to worry the Wealdstone defence.

This pressure eventually paid off on 78 minutes when they grabbed an equaliser.

Curran got on the end of a left wing cross from Davidson and sent a glancing header beyond Thomas and high into the net.

Canvey pushed forward in search of the winning goal but it was Wealdstone who had the chances in the last ten minutes to nick a victory.

An error from Moore on 82 minutes allowed substitute Danny Spendlove to find some space.

Spendlove squared the ball to fellow sub Davis Haule who was completely unmarked but he fired a weak shot straight at Wiseman who saved well with his feet. Seconds later, Spendlove worked a shooting opportunity but fired a tame effort that Wiseman saved comfortably.

With two minutes to go, Wealdstone came close to winning the game. Ryan Ashe did superbly to hook in a cross from the right and David Hicks poked an effort towards goal that Wiseman somehow managed to save on the goal-line.

Canvey thought they had snatched the three points in injury time when Antoine fired home from close range after Curran’s shot deflected off of a defender and fell to him. The linesman though ruled the ‘goal’ out for offside.

The final whistle blew soon after and Gulls had to settle for a point from a hard fought game.
Canvey are in midweek action when they travel to fierce local rivals Billericay Town on Tuesday night.

Oysterfleet Man of the Match:

JAY CURRAN: Another hard working performance topped off with a fine headed goal.

Match Report by David Powell.