Match Report

Canvey Island got their pre season campaign off to a winning start away to Romford at Aveley's Mill Field on Saturday. In what was a typically scrappy first run out for both sides, all three goals were scored within 6 six minutes during the first half to give The Gulls a 2-1 victory.

Canvey started the match slowly, and had a defensive scare early on as centre backs Ben Patten & Richard Halle and former loan goalkeeper James Russell almost conspired to gift the hosts an early goal without having a shot!

Leon Gordon should have put Canvey 1-0 after only 4 minutes, though after collecting a loose ball in the area, his right footed shot was struck narrowly wide. Soon after, a superb left wing cross from trialist Greg Cohen was delivered into a great area, though Leon Gordon and Gabriel Fanibuyan were unable to make any connection with the ball.

The opening goal did come on 13 minutes, with Canvey recycyling what had seemed like a broken down move well to take the lead. Leon Gordon slid a well weighted ball through to his strike partner Ian Luck, though his shot was hit low at the goalkeeper who was able to parry the ball away. Frank Everett regained possession and worked the ball out to Gabriel Fanibuyan on the right wing, who was able to beat his man and deliver an excellent ball to the edge of the 6 yard box where Ian Luck was on hand to execute and overhead kick and score.

However, only two minutes later and the Boro were level. A sloppy pass from Ben Patten was squared directly to Cosson, and despite a good half block by James Russell, the Romford striker's shot snuck into the bottom right hand corner to make it 1-1.

The match swung Canvey's way once more on 19 minutes when centre back Clary fouled Leon Gordon in the box, with the linesman signalling for a penalty. Gordon picked himself up and smashed the resulting spot kick past former West Ham United goalkeeper Neil Finn to regain the lead.

On 26 minutes, a delightful throughball from Greg Cohen was latched onto by Gabriel Fanibuyan, who proceded to round the Romford keeper before seeing his goalbound should cleared off of the line by home skipper Paul Clayton.

Canvey started to play some fantastic passing football out on the right wing as the second half drew to a close, and twice some fluent passing moves involving Luck, Edwards, Fanibuyan, Gordon, and Everett almost resulted in goals, though Romford weathered the storm and kept the deficit to 1 goal at half time.

The second half was a lot more of a subdued affair, with numerous substitutions by both sides affecting the flow of that game that had built towards the end of the first period. The first real action came with 13 minutes to go with Romford coming close to scoring an equaliser, though a brave stop by James Russell denied the hosts.

With 2 minutes remaining and Canvey could have sealed the victory, though Jay Curran's lofted shot rebounded off of the cross bar after he was sent through on goal by Nick Reynolds' precise pass. Then with a minute to go, Romford looked sure to get a last minute shot on goal from close range, though a heroic diving interception by trialist Reiss Noel avoided James Russell having to make a save.

Overall, a good run out for Canvey in our first match of the new campaign, with Southend United next up for The Gulls on Tuesday night.

Oysterfleet Man of the Match:

GREG COHEN:  A good solid performance by the left winger, currently on trial with the club. Not afraid to take on the opposition, and delivered some superb crosses into the danger area.

Match Report by Glen Eckett.