The argument all the way home on the coach from Wealdstone tonight was, "Were we worse today than the Lowestoft match, or slightly better?" The smart money was on slightly better, but it was a close run thing. The White Lion ground certainly isn't a lucky one for Canvey - remember last year when we outplayed 'The Stones' for the whole match, but they snatched an equaliser in the 97^th minute. This year we had a perfectly good goal disallowed and then, a terrible blow for Canvey, Scott Lindsey's was sent off.

The 'goal that wasn't' came after 21 minutes. Up to that point Canvey had been running the game and the Yellow Army were confident of great things to come. Imber, the Wealdstone goalkeeper had been hurt punching away a high cross, but play continued until the referee stopped the game in order for the trainer to come on to give him attention. The ball hadn't gone out of play and so to restart things, the ref. gave a drop-ball and the gentlemanly agreement was that Paul Donovan would kick the ball back to the home 'keeper. The drop-ball was just about on the half way line and so Donners gave it long high lob, just to make sure it reached it's destination. Unfortunately, the home 'keeper mis-caught the ball and dropped it into his own goal. One - Nil to Canvey? "No!" said the ref. "That's not in the spirit of the game."

"But why?" we all called. The drop ball is, effectively, an indirect situation in that you cannot score directly from it, without the ball touching another player. But the ball did touch another player: the goalkeeper dropped it into his own net. Was it un-gentlemanly conduct for Donners to take a pop at goal? Perhaps it was. Perhaps he should have been booked for such an offence, but I can't find anything in the 'Laws of Association Football' that says the goal has to be disallowed.

Although the referees decision was a tough one for Canvey to swallow, things went terribly wrong nine minutes later when Scott Lindsey was sent off. Andy Sussex had been booked for going for a 50/50 ball on the half way line. Whilst the free kick was being organised there was a rumpus in the Canvey penalty area involving Lindsey and Wealdstone's No.10 Steve Bircham. The referee didn't see anything but the linesman had no doubt in his mind that an offence had been committed. The ref. consulted his assistant and as a result Scott Lindsey was shown the red card for the third time this season. This was the end for Canvey. They seemed to lose their shape from this point on and found it very difficult to make any dents in a well organised Wealdstone defence.

The Canvey fans were angry with Scott for being sent off, and rightly so. Having one less man made everything doubly difficult for Canvey. The mid-field kept pumping balls up-field, only to see them coming straight back. Wealdstone had several players who could run to the Canvey bye-line and all their crosses looked dangerous. At the other end, there were very few shots to bother Imber and their defence gave little, if anything, away.

Wealdstone went one up on 33 minutes from a well taken corner which was steered goalwards by Mick Swaysland. After the break Canvey tried to lift their game, but the mountain they had to climb was just too great. No matter what they did in the middle, nothing was happening up front. The defence found itself stretched and after 52 minutes Wealdstone went two up when Phil Dicker scored his first goal for The Stones.

Canvey came very close to pulling one back with a terrific Donners/Port's long throw routine. The throw on was great, finding Steve Porter's head perfectly. He nodded it back to Paul Williams who just failed to connect. A few minutes later Danny Hazel managed to connect with a long ball from mid-field and nodded it on to Willow who was running towards the goal. Spotting the 'keeper off his line he too nodded the ball on, but was so unlucky to see it go just wide.

On 73 minutes Wealdstone got their third goal to make it 3 - 0. It was a very well taken goal by Brian Jones who beat at least two defenders before slotting the ball into the corner of Lee Ballard's net. This was just reward for Jones who, I thought, had been having a good game all afternoon. The final score was just a bit flattering to the home side, but at the same time there was no way Canvey were ever going to get the three points. There were some good individual performances, especially at the back. Difficult to decide on a Canvey Man of the Match. Fans around me were voting for Ports and I almost agree with them. In the end, however, I feel it must go to Chris Blakeborough who had another really great game. It's my column after all!!!

Wealdstone have very good home and away support and the crowd of 437 was a good one. Most of the home fans I spoke to agreed about the Donovan goal, but I suppose with a 3 - 0 scoreline they could afford to be generous. How many of those fans came through the turnstile and how many joined Bob, David and Denise and climbed through the hole in the fence, is uncertain. Little John missed this match - fortunately for him! Apparently he's been naughty and has been grounded for a week by his mum.