Match Report

The Gulls played host to near neighbours Great Wakering Rovers in a pre season friendly at the Brockwell Stadium with the match ending in a 2-2 draw.

It was a lacklustre performance from the Gulls who played well for spells but were punished for some sloppy defending.

Wakering worked hard throughout the 90 minutes and gave Canvey a tough match, battling well in midfield and never allowing their defence to settle.

Canvey started brightly creating the better chances. Gabriel Fanibuyan came close to converting a chance at the near post from a right wing cross on 16 minutes and then Wakering keeper Louis Green was alert to rush from his goal and deny James Rowe.

Wakering took the lead though against the run of play on 21 minutes. Poor marking allowed Ty Benjamin to fire home past keeper James Russell.

Canvey suffered a further blow when Tarkan Mustafa limped off injured on 33 minutes. He was replaced by Craig Davidson.

Canvey though still looked the better team and drew level on 37 minutes when Kevin Dobinson made a great run into the penalty area but was fouled by the defender.

The referee immediately pointed to the spot and although Green dived to his left to brilliantly keep out Rowe’s kick, the former Sudbury striker instinctively followed up to smash home the rebound.
A minute later, Canvey were in front thanks to a stunning effort from Dobinson.

Fanibuyan laid the ball back to the midfielder who was nearly 30 yards out on the right hand side of the pitch. Dobinson let fly a ferocious effort that flew past Green and into the bottom corner of the net. The goal was a carbon copy of the effort that Dobinson grabbed in a FA Trophy replay against Stalybridge over 5 years ago and certainly the midfielder would have been happy with this particular strike.

Canvey lead at half time and the second half was a much quieter affair.

Dobinson saw an effort deflected wide for a corner before a rare mistake by Russell allowed Wakering to grab an equaliser on 60 minutes. The former Stevenage keeper rashly came racing from his goal to clear a long ball but mis-kicked straight to Hughie Ashman who fired home into the empty net.

Canvey dominated the final half an hour but at times were sloppy in possession and didn’t really do enough to test Green in the Wakering goal.

Greg Cohen curled a free kick just inches too high and wide of goal after a foul on Jay Curran around 20 yards from goal on 70 minutes.

Substitute Nicky Reynolds then showed great tenacity to create an opportunity for himself but saw his shot come off a defender for a corner and from the resulting set piece, the young striker headed wide at the far post.

With ten minutes remaining, Chris Moore got on the end of Cohen’s left wing corner but sent a towering header wide of the post.

The game drifted towards its’ conclusion with a draw being the final outcome.

The Gulls complete their pre season fixtures with the visit of Ryman One South side Sittingbourne on Saturday to the Brockwell Stadium.

Oysterfleet Man of the Match:

KEVIN DOBINSON: Scored a stunning long range effort and put in an energetic display in midfield.

Match Report by David Powell.