Canvey Island 1-1 Cheshunt

Match report by David Powell
Photo Credit - Dan Goody

Canvey Island were made to settle for a share of the points, after a 1-1 draw with Cheshunt at the Moviestarr Stadium.

On a dull, grey afternoon, both sides found it hard to find their rhythm in a stop/start game on a difficult pitch, and both were guilty of missing key chances to win the game.

This was the Gulls first home game on a Saturday since the end of September due to various postponements, and they made a laboured start to the match, finding it hard to create chances against a physical Cheshunt rearguard.

Their lack of pressing presence fed into the visitors style of play, and as they grew more in confidence, they were gifted the lead on 18 minutes.
After Nathaniel Orafu had a shot saved by Sam Jackson, the resulting clearance could only be hooked into the path of substitute Jesse Friend, the player with ample space in the area to fire a composed strike into the corner of the net to open the scoring.

This spurred Canvey into life, but the chequered flow of the match and a heavy pitch made their usual style of play difficult, relying on set pieces to trouble their opponents.

Bradley Sach saw a back heeled effort cleared off the line on 40 minutes as they looked to reply, and then a few minutes later, another routine from a corner saw them awarded a penalty, with Jamie Salmon being pushed in the box.
Conor Hubble stepped up and fired a cool finish past Sami Nabbad to level the scores as half time beckoned.

Into the second half, and Sam Jackson had to be alert to keep Cheshunt at bay, keeping out a low shot on 57 minutes, before getting down well to keep out Isiah Noel Willliams shot after a mazy run saw him break into the box.

Canvey looked to make chances of their own, but found it hard to play the ball through the channels as they liked.
Elliott Ronto blazed over one of their better chances on 76 minutes, as his effort cleared the crossbar, before Jaden Crowhurst - who marshalled the right flank well all afternoon, broke into the box and squared a ball across goal that unfortunately slid past any strikers waiting in the box.

Cheshunt blazed over a free kick on 88 minutes but the chances for either side were in short supply until the game reached injury time.

First, Cheshunt could have won the game as they broke at Canvey on the counter, with an initial shot being saved well by Sam Jackson, and it could have been a case of deja vu as their first, but somehow the rebound was fired over from close range, to the collective breath of a huge sigh of relief from all the Canvey faithful in the ground.

Then, in the last of 6 minutes added on, Tobi Tinubu was dragged down as he broke on goal, with the refferee deeming a free kick on the edge of the area when wing back wanted a penalty.
Conor Hubble stood over the ball, though in a moment than perhaps summed up the game, he dragged a low stike wide of the visitors post - a rare off colour moment for the midfielder and an opportunity missed both in the moment, and on the afternoon for the Gulls.

The refferee blew for full time shortly afterwards, with the draw a fair result on the basis of play.
Canvey now turn their attention to the Essex Senior Cup on Tuesday evening, as Essex Senior League side White Ensign are the visitors in the 3rd Round.