Match Report

An entertaining game at The Rush Green Bowl saw Canvey Island secure a 3-1 victory over FC Clacton in a pre season friendly.

The Gulls conceded early in the match and looked rather lacklustre during the first half but an excellent second half performance saw them come back to score three goals against their opponents from the Ridgeons’ League Division One.

The match began in wet conditions and the persistent rain threatened to dampen Canvey’s spirits.
Clacton took the lead after 6 minutes as Canvey made a sluggish start. Paul Hillier had a simple tap in from a yard out after Mark Waters pulled the ball back across goal.

Clacton were exploiting some lapse defending by Canvey and Kevin Coyle teased Grant Hill down the right and fired in a low shot that went inches wide of James Russell’s goal on 21 minutes.

Canvey responded with a chance of their own on 27 minutes. Greg Cohen’s free kick from the left was met by a firm header by Frankie Everett but Clacton keeper Craig Rulton got across well to hold the ball.

The game turned in Canvey’s favour on 31 minutes when Coyle challenged Russell for a 50/50 ball but slid in and caught the Gulls’ keeper on the knee. The Clacton player’s foot was up as he contested the ball and the referee deemed the challenge malicious enough to show Coyle a red card.

Canvey though were unable to make the advantage count straight away and failed to test Rulton for the rest of the half.

The second half was a different story though. Greg Cohen was beginning to open up the Clacton defence down the left and his excellent runs and crosses into the penalty area gave them all sorts of problems.

James Rowe fired an acrobatic effort straight at Rulton on 47 minutes and moments later the keeper comfortably saved Cohen’s free kick from 20 yards.

Canvey though were looking extremely likely to grab an equaliser and that came on 53 minutes. Rowe held off a defender on the edge of the area and was able to turn and fire a well placed shot into the bottom corner of the net.

Ten minutes later, Cohen burst past the full back down the left and his excellent cross fell to Jay Curran who fired in a first time volley that Rulton was equal to.

Gregg Heighway responded for Clacton by getting his head to Waters’ free kick from the right but watched his effort sail narrowly high and wide of the goal.

Canvey though took the lead on 65 minutes. Kevin Dobinson opened up the Clacton defence with a surging run towards the penalty area and picked out Rowe with a decent pass. Rowe unselfishly sent in a dangerous low cross from the right that Curran stabbed home at the far post from close range.
As Clacton started to tire, Canvey created several opportunities to increase their lead. Both Cohen and Ryan Edgar were getting plenty of space out on the wings and Dobinson was dominating the midfield.

Both Curran and Edgar came close to a third and on 83 minutes, Rowe latched on to Edgar’s fine through pass but Rulton did superbly to deny the former Sudbury striker.

The Gulls wrapped up their win with a goal in injury time. More good work from Dobinson and Edgar provided a chance for substitute Nicky Reynolds who found space on the right hand side of the penalty area and drilled a low shot beyond Rulton and into the bottom corner of the net.
The whistle blew moments later to complete a good win for Canvey.

They continue their pre season fixtures with a match against Ryman One North side Great Wakering Rovers on Tuesday night.

Oysterfleet Man of the Match:

GREG COHEN:  Was constantly able to beat his man and put in a number of quality crosses.

Match Report by David Powell.