Match Report

This was without doubt Canvey’s best performance and clearly shows that all the boys are listening and learning from what they are being shown at training. From start to finish Canvey passed the ball around and created chance after chance, and only some good goalkeeping and near misses stopped Canvey from racking up a Rugby type score line. At the final whistle, the Ekco manager very sportingly told us that they were very fortunate to come away with a point after such a one sided game.

Against a very good Ekco team, they made their opponents look very ordinary and created a chance in the very first minute, and seconds later Harry Harrison scored after a move that involved Thomas, Henry and James. From then on it was all one way traffic, but the best thing about the whole game was way the boys kept looking up when in possession and passing to their team mates who were in better positions.

Every now and then Ekco would get the ball, but as always Reece was alert and he and Harry Herbert cleared away any danger. Canvey kept on creating chances and the passing between Henry, Harry Harrison, Thomas and James was causing Ekco all sorts of problems. We just couldn’t find that second goal, and right on half time, after one of their only breaks into the Canvey half, Ekco were awarded a debated penalty. The Ekco striker took the penalty and Harry Bates in the Canvey goal produced an excellent save and the bravely dived at the feet of 2 Ekco players for the rebound to save Canvey.

The second half was just the same as the first with Canvey passing their way through the Ekco defence with Harry and Henry both having great games. Thomas, Harry and James combined well to set Henry on his way, but he was brought down and awarded a free kick. From the free kick, Henry smashed a low hard shot that went through the defence and in of the near post to put Canvey 2 up.

Canvey went straight back on the attack and Henry hit the bar and Harry forced the keeper into more saves. Byron was on for Thomas, and Adam came on for James they both contributed to the attacks that followed. Ekco gave Canvey a warning that they weren’t yet finished, but good goalkeeping from Harry kept Canvey in front.

With the boys now beginning to get tired, Ekco amazingly produced 2 goals in the last 2 minutes and claim a very undeserved draw. All the Canvey players can go away from this game knowing that their parents are very proud of the way they all battled and everyone of them could have come away with the man of the match. This went to Harry Bates for the fantastic penalty save, which in the end saved us from the most improbable of defeats.