How do you write up a match report when your team is soundly beaten by 4 goals to 2? Blame the referee, perhaps? He was appalling. Sometimes even this doesn’t really matter if he is appalling for both sides, but Mr Sandell from Norwich, denied Canvey at least one penalty and chose to ignore several other fouls, especially when they were in Canvey’s favour.

The Canvey players were, in the main, good as individuals. The problem seemed to be that they just couldn’t gel together as a team. When Canvey’s heart is in a game, they play fantastic football. On days like this, however, it just doesn’t seem to happen. This starts a downward spiral with the players looking dejected and the fans getting on their backs.

So why didn’t it happen for Canvey? At the back Ports and Wardy were great. Willow and Tilly chased everything and in the first half at least, Jamie Reilley ran his heart out. Alan Brett came close on several occasions and there was plenty of support from Donners and Kimble. The fans who made the long journey to Lowestoft were in fine voice and it all looked set for a Canvey victory. Even when Lowestoft scored from a free kick after only seven minutes, everyone thought that is was just a matter of time. All we wanted was for Canvey to get into their stride.

We thought it had happened on 17 minutes when Paul Williams came running through and sent a nicely weighted pass through to Alan Brett. He had a good shot which was blocked and the rebound was picked up by Jamie Reilley on the edge of the 18yd box. He took his time and picked his spot beautifully; right in the back of the Lowestoft net.

On 37 minutes Lowestoft went into the lead again, this time from a well taken corner. This was the point at which Canvey went into decline. The marking suddenly became slack, the passing erratic and the creativity all but disappeared. Lowestoft seized on this and enjoyed the freedom they were given to run the game.

There were odd moments of excitement. Bretty seemed to have the ball super-glued to his boots as he broke through the Lowestoft defence and laid on a great pass for Willow. Only a few yards out and with only the goalkeeper to beat, he should have scored, but the shot was so unbelievably tame it was very easy to clear.

In the second half Andy Jones came on for Gary Britnell. Everybody loves Brits but it was something of a surprise to see him in the starting line-up. He’s been a great player for Canvey but his legs just don’t seem to be long enough nowadays.

Gradually Lowestoft took command of the game with some brilliant one-two passing and good running both on and off the ball. Every clearance by Canvey just seemed to set Lowestoft up for their next attack. There was a spell when the home side had a succession of free kicks and corners that put Canvey under enormous pressure. No 9 (Grant Pierpoint) in particular was given so much room he was bound to score eventually.

It was on 75 minutes when Pierpoint nutmegged Chris Blakeborough – who had been having a good enough game – and then continued his 35yd run, finishing off with a well taken goal number three for Lowestoft.

By now the Yellow Army were giving their own side the bird, screaming for someone to show just a little bit of flair. The players responded in part with one or two good attempts but, in reality, they never looked like scoring. Nobody could understand why Canvey kept lobbing the long high ball into the middle when there was no one who could climb up to meet it. Set pieces showed little imagination and were easily cleared. Even Donners’ amazing long throw-ins failed to make any real impact.

Jamie Reilley needed treatment on his leg in the first half and the injury caught up with him in the second half when he was substituted by Jeff Brazier. Then, Blakey went off on 82 minutes, in favour of Tony Mahoney (yes it’s true! Tony Mahoney!). Even when things aren’t going well, the Canvey management often leaves its substitutions until the dying moments of the game. How can a player hope to make an impression on the game if they only have eight or nine minutes to play?

Canvey did score with just a few minutes to go, the credit being shared by Tilly and Bretty. A Tilson free kick from out on the left managed to get through to Alan Brett’s head. It was a great goal and for a few minutes the attack took on new strength and passion. They threw everything into the Lowestoft penalty area and, reminiscent of last Friday’s game against Romford, saw the ball parried, blocked or go just wide. Why oh why couldn’t they play like this for the whole 45 minutes?

Unfortunately Canvey were so keen on getting the equaliser, they left too big a gap at the back and it was Pierpoint again who picked up a loose ball, just outside the Canvey penalty area, and made sure his team went through by making it 4 – 2.

Whilst the Canvey players were having a rough time on the pitch, Tony Richardson, on the terrace, was spotted asking a local bobby for instructions on how to join the Special Constabulary. Having been asked by the Boys in Blue to moderate their language, Canvey fans could only resort to shouting, "Gosh, what a jolly awful decision, referee," or, "Excuse me referee, may I suggest you make an appointment with your ophthalmologist!"