Tilbury 5-3 Canvey Island

Canvey Island conceded four goals in an awful fifteen-minute spell to lose 5-3 away to Tilbury in the BetVictor Isthmian League North on Boxing Day.

On a heavy pitch which got worse as the match went on as the rain fell, Canvey proved to be a soft touch for Tilbury’s forwards who were allowed to score with such ease that they must have thought it was Christmas.

Manager Mark Bentley made two changes from the side that drew at home to Aveley five days earlier. James White failed a fitness test and wasn’t part of the matchday squad, with Rob Lacey dropping to the bench. In came winger Kane Gilbert and central midfielder Matt Lock, the latter taking over the captain’s armband from White.

After a quiet opening period, Tilbury created the first chance of the afternoon on 14 minutes when winger Ola Ogunwamide sent over an excellent cross from the left towards three teammates who had breached the Canvey defensive line. Experienced defender Lee Burns was best placed to head goalwards at the near post, but he failed to make contact and the ball travelled across goal and out for a goal kick.

Canvey should have taken the lead three minutes later when they were awarded a free kick out on the right. Matt Lock sent a low ball into the which Sam Bantick did well to control before getting a shot off which was saved. The ball rebounded straight to Alex Stephenson who shot first time, sending his effort the wrong side of the post from close range.

This miss proved to be costly two minutes later when Tilbury took the lead. A ball out to the right found the run of defender Ryan Boswell who got to the touchline before playing a low pass to the edge of the six-yard box. Tall forward Brian Moses got to the ball first and steered it goalwards which Lamar Johnson got something on but was unable to prevent trickling across the line.

The Gulls equalised on 27 minutes when they launched a counter attack following a Tilbury free kick. The ball was smashed forward and miskicked by a Tilbury defender ten yards inside his own half. Kane Gilbert capitalised and stole possession, playing Tobi Joseph in down the left.

Joseph did well to run the ball 30 yards on a difficult playing surface, stumbling his way into the box and managing to get a shot off. His low effort across goal may have gone in, but Jason Hallett made sure by helping it on its way to register his 15th of the season.

The Dockers regained the lead with five minutes remaining in the first half when Ola Ogunwamide picked up the ball on the halfway line and set off on a determined run towards goal. The winger showed great control to dribble until just inside the box before shooting across goal and into the bottom corner from the left of goal.

Having conceded late in the half, manager Mark Bentley would have been hoping for a reaction in the second half. However, what he got was the exact opposite as the hosts extended the advantage even further inside two minutes of the restart.

A ball in from the left found the feet of Brian Moses on the edge of the area with his back to goal. Moses held onto the ball for about five seconds and defenders tried and failed to dispossess him. With the ball still at his feet, Moses was allowed to turn and part the Canvey backline like the Red Sea before firing the ball high into the goal.

Canvey reduced the arrears on 50 minutes when Jason Hallett played a through ball down the left for Sam Bantick to run onto. Bantick played the ball across the face of goal which found Kane Gilbert who slid into fire into the roof of the net.

The free-scoring start to the second half continued two minutes later as Tilbury restored their two-goal cushion. Once again Brian Moses collected the ball with his back to goal, and once again he was allowed to turn and score the simplest of goals to complete his hattrick.

Things went from bad to worse for Canvey three minutes later when a long ball forwards found the run of Tilbury forward David Knight. The ex-Canvey man ran to the edge of the box and slotted past the on-rushing Lamar Johnson, with the ball crossing the line before Alex Stephenson could chase it back.

Ola Ogunwamide had a chance to score his second on 62 minutes when he latched onto a ball across the area from the left. He evaded the attempted tackle of Tobi Joseph and took aim, shooting narrowly wide of the bottom corner.

Canvey pulled a goal back on 73 minutes when Dan Humphreys won the ball out on the right and passed to Albert Levett. He cut infield and found the feet of Jason Hallett on the edge of the area who attempted a first time pass intended for Sam Bantick. The pass was blocked but fell to Bantick anyway who shot under the keeper from just inside the area.

The hosts had chances to add to their tally in the final ten minutes. On 83 minutes a through ball found the run of Brian Moses, but this time his shot was pushed wide by Lamar Johnson for a corner.

Moses was involved again soon afterwards when he ran across the edge of the area from the right, eventually passing to Ola Ogunwamide. He shot first time across goal, missing the bottom corner by a matter of inches.