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Canvey Island
Matches
Sat 25 Jan 2025  ·  Premier
Cray Valley PM
K Aileru (25'), T Beere (54')
2
0
Canvey Island FC
Canvey Island
Cray Valley PM 2-0 Canvey Island

Cray Valley PM 2-0 Canvey Island

Jonathan Andrews26 Jan - 13:00

Gulls slide towards the drop zone

Match Report by Jonathan Andrews

Canvey Island slipped further towards the Isthmian Premier drop zone on Saturday, as they were beaten 2-0 away at promotion chasing Cray Valley PM.

In front of a crowd of 268 in Eltham, the Gulls were second best and did little trouble home keeper and Colchester United loanee Harrison Chamberlain. Meanwhile at the other end, another defensive lapse allowed the hosts to take the lead midway through the first half, which they then doubled on 54 minutes as they remained in control of much of the rest of the game.

Brad Wellmen was without a raft of players during the game, with Tobi Tinubu on a one match suspension, Matt Yates recalled by Chelmsford City earlier in the week, and Chris Harris, Jaden Crowhurst, Ollie Parsons and Elliott Johnson all unavailable. Kane Gilbert and Elliott Ronto - both midfielders by trait - were forced into defensive action again.
Darren Foxley returned to the starting lineup after a short absence, with Harry Hope also on the bench for his first league appearance of the season. Also on the bench was a new signing in former Cheshunt and Carshalton Athletic midfielder Florian Kastrati.

Like in several of the last few games, it was Canvey who actually started the game the brighter, playing some neat football. The pace of Foxley in particular was giving the hosts headaches, and he created a few chances for the likes of Bradley Sach and Conor Hubble, but both found themselves stifled by the hosts defence.

At the other end, the host's relied on the pace of Kenny Aileru and Macel Barrington to bring them forward, but they were doing little to trouble Bobby Mason either, creating just the one chance of note as Barney Williams fired over the crossbar.

Canvey's defensive frailties would be exposed for all to see again however, as the hosts took the lead on 25 minutes. A ball whipped in from the left managed to find its way to Aileru at the back post after a Gilbert slip gifted him the space to hit a strike past Mason from close range into the roof of the net.

This knocked the confidence out of the Gulls, as the hosts started to dictate the rest of the half. Chances from Adam Coombes, Tom Beere and Macrel Barrington needed the Canvey defence to be alert in blocking several of them heading goalbound, including a scramble cleared off the line just before half time. Finlay Dorrell was also left moving sheepishly for much of his remainder of the time on the pitch, pulling up after he tried to charge down Chamberlain as he made a clearance.

Into the second half and much like last week, it was Canvey who came out asking the questions.

Jamie Salmon got the Gulls first chance on target as he forced Chamberlain to parry away his strike on 49 minutes.
Despite the Gulls early pressure though, they were still vulnerable on the break. After an amusing moment for the travelling Yellow Army saw the linesman slip on a slick surface, they'd be forgiven for missing the hosts start a good move forward, in which they managed to break into the area on the counter and feed the ball to Tom Beere, who beat an onrushing Bobby Mason to double the hosts lead.

From there on in, Canvey huffed and puffed, but couldn't break down their hosts, having just two more opportunities on goal that were tame for Chamberlain. Kastrati and Hope were introduced off the bench to add momentum, but neither could do much to turn the tide of the game.

At the other end, the hosts were looking to extend their league as they created more chances. Barrington once again dragged wide of target after another pressing break forward, while substitute Andre Coker perhaps had their best opportunity to make it three, but saw his strike well saved by Bobby Mason.

The full time whistle put Canvey out of their misery, with their losing run now stretching to six consecutive league games, leaving them outside of the relegation by just a point.

They now start a huge month which could be make or break for the season, as they face four of the bottom six in their next 7 league games. Cheshunt is the first of them, as they visit the Steves Taxis Stadium on Tuesday evening.

Match details

Match date

Sat 25 Jan 2025

Kickoff

15:00

Attendance

268

Competition

Premier

League position

2
Cray Valley PM
18
Canvey Island
Further reading

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