Match Report

Canvey Island continued their pre season campaign with a narrow 2-1 defeat to Chelmsford City at the Brockwell Stadium.

The Conference South side were probably the better team in this match but the Gulls will be pleased with a hardworking display and certainly gave the Clarets a tough game.

Canvey started brightly with James Rowe firing wide early on but it was Chelmsford who took the lead on 13 minutes. Good work by former Gull Jon Keeling released Ricky Holmes down the left. Holmes’ low cross was inch perfect for former Concord Rangers’ midfielder Anthony Cook who fired home from close range.

Chelmsford were on top at this stage and James Russell in the Canvey goal had to be alert to help over a volley from Cook after a Chelmsford corner had been partially cleared to the edge of the area.
With Dave Rainford and Jamie Hand stamping their authority in midfield, Chelmsford looked likely to increase their advantage but Canvey gradually got back into the game.

Rowe was proving a real livewire up front and some good play by Ian Luck on the right on 27 minutes saw him flick a pass into the former Sudbury striker who did superbly to take the ball down, turn the defender and fire in a half volley that City keeper Craig Holloway did well to save at the second attempt.

Canvey claimed their equaliser on 37 minutes. A fine pass sent Rowe scampering through on goal and as he tried to round Holloway, the keeper caught him to concede a penalty.

Craig Davidson stepped up to confidently fire his penalty home into the bottom corner of the net.
Canvey suffered an injury blow when triallist full back Danny Kerrigan was stretchered off.
Chelmsford’s Mark Haines suffered a similar fate after a robust collision with Jay Curran on the stroke of half time.

Chelmsford began the second half well, taking the lead within 5 minutes. Hand found Cook down the right and his cross was slid home at the far post by Holmes.

Both sides made a number of substitutions but still Chelmsford were on top, going close to adding a third on a number of occasions.

Canvey did still threaten though with Rowe doing well to turn a defender in the penalty area but saw his low cross deflect off a defender and narrowly wide of the near post for a corner.

On 67 minutes, Ryan Edgar flashed a shot wide of the far post after a surging run from midfield.
Greg Cohen nearly embarrassed Holloway with an in swinging corner from the left that the keeper had to push away for another corner.

Russell was forced into two more excellent saves before the end, making a good reaction stop to turn away an angled shot from the left on 79 minutes and then diving to his left to push away a lobbed shot that seemed to be heading for the net on 88 minutes.

Leon Gordon nearly worked an opening for Canvey in injury time but it wasn’t to be for the Gulls and Chelmsford held out to record a narrow victory.

Canvey are next in pre season action on Tuesday when they visit Essex Senior League side Tiptree United.

Oysterfleet Man of the Match:

JAMES ROWE: The new signing impressed up front giving the Chelmsford defence plenty of problems.

Match Report by David Powell.