Canvey Island 1-0 Concord Rangers

Match Report by David Powell
Photo Credit - Nicky Hayes

Canvey Island secured local bragging rights for the season as they completed a double over Island rivals Concord Rangers with a 1-0 at the Moviestarr Stadium.

In front of a healthy New Years Day crowd of just under 850, the Gulls were made to work for their victory, but did enough to secure their first league double over the Beachboys since 1994 - and most importantly, pick up their first three points in the league since late November.

The game got off to a laboured start for both teams, with the battle for possession being bogged down in the midfield as both sides looked to hit each other on the counter.

It was Canvey though, who crafted the games first proper chance on 27 minutes, when a foray forward saw the ball worked into the visitors box, where Conor Hubble was on hand to fire a shot at goal, but saw his effort saved at the near post by keeper Mason Terry.

The visitors created their first chance a few minutes after, where Canvey were indebted to Elliott Johnson, as he cleared a looping effort off the line. Then, on 33 minutes, it was the Gulls turn to go close again as Charlie Edwards got a glancing header on the end of Tobi Tinubu’s ball into the box, but again Terry was on hand to push the ball away.

The momentum was swinging in Canvey’s favour, and they enjoyed a good spell of pressure as they asked questions of their rivals.
First, Rob Girdlestone went close as he saw a header cleared off the line by an alert Joe Halsey. Then, shortly after, Higgins came close to grabbing his first goal in Canvey colours, as good interplay between him and Sach saw the former find space inside the box, but his shot at goal saw the visiting Terry get just enough on his save to deflect it onto the post.

A medical emergency in the crowd halted play in the 45th minute, but when it resumed, Canvey kept up their pressure up to open the scoring in added on time. Concord tried to play the ball out from the back, but a misqueued pass was quickly pounced upon by Higgins, the striker making no mistake as he took one touch to steady the ball before rocketing a powerful strike into the corner of the net to put the Gulls 1-0 up.

Into the second half, and Canvey's gameplan was dealt a big blow just four minutes in, with the recently prolific Sach subbed off after he picked up a knock, with new signing Ben Marlow introduced from the bench for his first Canvey appearance since a brief loan spell from West Ham United in 2014.

It put wind into the visitors sails, and with the rain beggining to fall, they looked to create the perfect storm in front of the Canvey goal as they chased an equaliser. Duane Ofori-Acheampong made one of their better opportunities on 61 minutes, but for a brilliant save by Sam Jackson to deny him as be broke into the area.

Mert Apat then got a dangerous header in eight minutes later, and his effort crash off the crossbar, with Tinubu on hand to clear the ball away to safety.

The visitors continued to probe, keeping the Canvey defence on their toes. When the Gulls did look to break, they struggled to find their usual rhythm, with Higgins now isolated up front and Edwards and Marlow unable to find success down the channels.

Another headache would come the Gulls way on 72 minutes, with Rob Girdlestone forced off, meaning Elliott Ronto had to drop back into defence as Luca Albon took his place in the midfield. The visitors smelled blood, and both were soon on defensive duties as they came forward again.

The Gulls defence did well to hold out, particularly as the visitors earned a succession of corners. Their final chance came on 87 minutes, as another set play left many in the ground with hearts in mouths, but for Jackson to come to the rescue again with another big stop to preserve his clean sheet.

It proved to be enough for the Gulls as they saw out the remainder of the match to earn a massive three points and get back to winning ways at the dawn of an important month, much to the delight of most of the crowd in attendance.

Their attention now turns towards another crucial game on the road, as they travel to another of the league's basement sides, Haringey Borough, on Saturday afternoon.