Cray Wanderers 2-1 Canvey Island

Match Report by Jonathan Andrews

Canvey Island's bad run of away form continued on Wednesday evening, as they lost 2-1 to Cray Wanderers in the Isthmian League Premier.

In what was very much a 'game of two halves', the Gulls poor start cost them, conceding twice in the opening 25 minutes. A Bradley Sach goal restored some parity in the 2nd half, and if not for some astute defending from the hosts, Canvey could well have taken at least a point from the game.

New signing Jimmy Wallace, who arrived from Cheshunt this week, was drafted straight into the starting line up. He and the rest of the Canvey defence were made to endure a torrid first half however, with a lively home attack asking questions from the get go. Yahya Bamba got the games first chance, firing over from range within the opening 10 minutes.

It wouldn't be long before Cray made their momentum count however and on 11 minutes, they took the lead. In much of a 'deja vu' situation to previous outings on the road, a low cross into the area couldn't be cleared by the Gulls defence, with the loose ball falling kindly to George Porter, who smashed home from 10 yards, giving Sam Jackson little chance in the Canvey goal.

When Canvey were able to break out of their half, they saw much of their movement restricted by a lively home defence stunting their flow. Balls out to the channels were also being restricted, with any resulting crosses being comfortably snapped up by home keeper Shaun Rowley.
Elliott Ronto's shouts for a penalty in the 16th minute were waved away by the refferee, the man in the middle instead ajduging the midfielder to have dived.

With the momentum still in the hosts favour, it came as little surprise when they extended their lead on 23 minutes. A corner delivered a dangerous ball into the area that saw possession pinball around, allowing Tom Bonner to hit a strike that was kept out by the post. The loose ball again wasn't cleared however, allowing Porter the time smash home a his and his sides second at the near post.

Canvey's only real chance of merit came on 35 minutes, when good work on the flank by Ronto allowed him to play a ball to Bradley Sach on the edge of the box. The striker was unable to keep his shot down on this occasion though, sailing just over Rowley’s goal.

After a frustrating first half, Brad Wellmen rung the half time changes, with Munns and Paxman coming off for Hubble and Brown. His gambit seemed to pay off, injecting more life into the game for the Gulls, though not before a bizarre call from the officials denied the hosts a third.

Despite a Canvey ball being played upfield and dealt with by a Cray defender, the linesman waved his flag for offside against the Gulls. The refferee failed to notice this however, allowing Cray to counter and eventually score from the passage of play. The linesmans flag remained raised however and after consultation with the referee, the original offside decision was upheld - meaning Cray's goal was ruled out, much to their frustration and Canvey's relief.

That respite allowed Canvey to come forward, finally able to move the ball around on the deck and leaving the home defence back peddling. That extra injection of pace on the wings allowed gaps to open up, with one of them meriting Canvey a way back into the game on 59 minutes.

Good work on the left by Kai Brown drew the home defenders away from the area, leaving Bradley Sach free to pick up a ball on the edge of the box and smash home a fierce shot that Rowley couldn't keep out. Game on and plenty of time still for Canvey to get something from the game.

Louie Arrowsmith was introduced to add more pace on the flanks and suddenly the possession swung in Canvey’s favour, with the hosts backpeddling.
The chances began to fall, with Elliott Ronto and Charlie Edwards both looking to force the issue in the box. First, a header from Ronto was glanced wide of the post after a corner. Then the pair combined again 10 minutes later, causing chaos in the box as first Edwards effort from 6 yards out was blocked, before Ronto's overhead kick was well taken by Rowley.

At the other end though, Canvey still had to be alert at the back, with Tom Beere going close for the hosts on 63 minutes, before Jackson was called into action to first deny Gary Lockyer, then produce a fantastic save at stretch to deny Frankie Raymond in the 80th minute.

Canvey's best two chances to take something from the game came in last 10 minutes however. First, in the 83rd minute, Elliott Ronto came close with a good shot from the edge of the box that drifted just wide of Rowley’s post.
Three minutes later, Charlie Edwards was able to get his head onto a ball into the area, but he couldn't direct it with the power needed to beat Rowley, who made a good save to his left to keep the ball out.

They were able to force one more half chance as time faded out, with Arrowsmith able to break into miles of space on the flank, but his ball into the area was too heavy for Sach, seeing the opportunity fizzle away, leaving the striker and the travelling Yellow Army frustrated.

It meant more disappointment on the road for the Gulls and, despite a second half improvement, their losing run on the road stretched to four, with their last victory on their travels all the way back in November.
They'll be hoping that better home form aids them on Saturday, as Carshalton Athletic are the visitors to the Moviestarr Stadium.