Match Report

Canvey under 16’s showed some true grit and spirit against a Deanswood side that are considered to be one of the teams likely to finish in the top three.

A great game for the neutral this game had everything including a saved penalty from the Deanswood keeper.

Deanswood controlled the game early on with some slick passing and some strong tackles, however as the game progressed the Canvey side grew in confidence.

The defence led by a very vocal Chris Wong and well disciplined Miles Fraser were more than equal to anything Deanswood had to throw at them. The longer the game went on the more Canvey’s well disciplined side began to take control of the game allowing the players on the flanks Daniel Powers and Andrew O’Brien to get more involved. Billy Keyes added the flair to Brad Longs blistering pace and work rate in midfield. This possession paid dividends when Daniel Powers excellent run enabled him to get on the end of a Jack Carver early free kick that caught Deanswood napping, to slot past the keeper allowing Canvey to go into the break winning by the odd goal.

The second half substitutes continued where the first half finished Elliot Graham and Jay Lovell again controlled the play following a jittery start with Carver adding some metal to a side that had dominated the game in the air but lacked aggression. Jay Lovell made use of some good space out wide right with Bucko up front winning everything in the air. However it was Elliot Graham who got between two defenders to get Canvey’s well deserved second. The inevitable period of pressure from Deanswood began to see Canvey’s defence strain and a few individual errors enabled Deanswood to get back into the game with a consolation goal, a tense end saw Canvey lose possession too often.

Deanswood were lucky to finish the game with 11 men as one of their strikers punched the ball past Paul Hendall the Canvey keeper who despite a couple of hair raising moments had a great game.

Both teams could have won if they had taken some of their excellent chances; however Canvey deserved their 2-1 which sees them move up the table.

MOTM Connor Bigley others worth a mention were Ryan Gale, Connor Cobb and Craig Forman.