Great Wakering Rovers 1-1 Canvey Island

Canvey Island and Great Wakering Rovers played out a tense and often fiery local derby at Burroughs Park on Saturday, drawing 1-1 in the BetVictor Isthmian League North.

Manager Mark Bentley made four changes from the side that beat Brentwood Town in midweek. Central defenders Michael Finneran and Elliott Warren both missed out through injury, as did midfielder Matt Lock.

In came Max Kent at left back and Albert Levett in central midfield, while Josh Hutchinson replaced Kane Gilbert on the wing. New signing Freddy Eastwood was handed a debut after arriving on work experience from Southend United, partnering Jason Hallett in attack.

Canvey started well, creating some good chances without being able to grab an early goal.

On four minutes Tobi Joseph sent across a low ball from the right which just evaded the run of Jason Hallett.

Hallett did get to the ball three minutes when his shot was saved by goalkeeper Bobby Mason diving to his right. Josh Hutchinson managed to regain possession on the left and chipped a cross to the back post for Albert Levett, but his header struck the crossbar.

On 16 minutes Tobi Joseph sent across another low ball drilled in from the right, this time towards Freddy Eastwood. The forward attempted to flick the ball goalwards with his trailing leg but was unable to direct the ball on target.

There was danger up the other end immediately when a through ball from the right looked to sending ex-Gull Jake Gordon in behind the Canvey defence. However, just as the winger was about to pull the trigger, Dan Humphreys nipped in and got his toe to the ball which sent it behind for a corner.

Canvey were soon back on the attack, with a lofted ball down the left wing being raced onto by Freddy Eastwood. The forward stopped the ball dead and cut inside right back Louie Hay, playing an excellent cross field ball which found Albert Levett bursting into the box on the opposite side of the pitch. However, he pulled his shot across goal and wide of the target for a goal kick.

Rob Budd was called into action for the first time on 29 minutes when he got down to his right to keep out Dan Walker’s shot from 20 yards. He couldn’t hold the shot but did well to get up and block Martin Tuohy’s follow-up effort at the expense of a corner.

Some heroic defending kept Canvey at bay two minutes later when Jason Hallett played a ball across the face of goal from the left. Ollie Woodhouse slid in and managed to help the ball on its way and behind for a corner inside the six-yard box, getting to the ball moments before Albert Levett could score a tap in.

This interception proved to be even more valuable three minutes later when Wakering took the lead. A perfectly timed through ball from Jake Gordon found the run of Kojo Apenteng, and the winger beat Rob Budd one-on-one by finding the bottom corner.

Canvey had chances to get back on level terms before half time, but Albert Levett saw his shot saved on 38 minutes before Jason Hallett had a shot deflected behind for a corner on the stroke of half time.

The Gulls had plenty of the ball in the second half, spending the majority of the time attacking the Wakering goal.

On 50 minutes a period of pressure ended with Albert Levett sending a ball across the face of goal from the right that was begging to be tapped in, but no Canvey player was positioned to apply the finishing touch.

Three minutes later a swift counter attack saw Josh Hutchinson play the ball through for Jason Hallett to run onto. However, the ball caught a bobble just as Hallett was about to shoot which resulted in his effort going high and wide.

Levett then had a shot saved by Bobby Mason on 57 minutes from just outside the area, with Mason also managing to keep out Hallett’s follow up effort.

Canvey levelled the scores on 79 minutes when a long ball forwards saw Jason Hallett head towards goal down the left. Mason came off his line and slid in the claim the ball, but in doing so handled the ball outside of the area.

The referee awarded the free kick, and while Wakering argued Jason Hallett showed great alertness to place the ball down and play a quick free kick to Albert Levett. The midfielder looked up and curled the ball in from 20 yards, with the defender on the line unable to keep the shot out.

The Gulls then had a great chance to get their noses in front when James White delivered a dangerous free kick into the box from the left, but Tobi Joseph didn’t get enough on his header which went across goal and wide.

The best chance that either side had to claim all three points came with five minutes remaining and fell to the hosts. A deep cross to the back post found Wakering’s player/manager Steve Butterworth, but he also didn’t make enough contact on his header which went behind for a goal kick.

Butterworth did have another opportunity in the final minute of normal time, but Rob Budd did well to save his low shot diving to his left.