For any Canvey fan who couldn't make it to Sutton today, you missed a great game. OK, there weren't many goals, but there was a terrific display of football, starting in the midfield, but supported well both behind and also up front. The mystery is, why didn't we score another four goals?

On a warm but rainy day, the sloping pitch looked in good condition and the fans settled in for what they hoped would be an entertaining afternoon. Canvey were still smarting from the FA Trophy defeat last season and wanted revenge. Sutton were hoping to mount their campaign to return to the Conference. The stage was set for an interesting game of football.  

Something of a surprise to the travelling supporters was the absence of Steve Clark from the starting line-up. Following his two goals at St Albans in mid-week many would have made him an obvious choice, but it seems that manager Jeff King is playing a squad system and it was Neil Gregory's turn for the No. 9 shirt. But no matter, the game started with good flowing football from both teams and from the off, the standard of football was high.  

Both teams suffered the odd scare, for Canvey it came on 10 minutes when danger-man Nko Ekoku was put through with a golden scoring opportunity but his rather tame shot was cleared for a corner which was eventually dispatched to safety. At the other end, Wayne Vaughan was causing headaches and he came so close when Steve Parmenter sent over a superb cross that he found with his head, but just couldn't find the power to beat Gareth Howells in the Sutton goal.

Another opportunity fell to Vaughan a few minutes later, this time it was Gregory who put him through, but once again there wasn't quite enough power to go past Howells, who was working harder than any other Sutton player.

And so the first half went on. Solid build up play by the visitors, but not enough of that magic ingredient in the 18yd box that turns opportunity into goals. At the other end, however, Harrison was having quite an easy day and, apart from taking out some crosses, had very little to do.

Anybody who might have been tipping Sutton for a quick return to the Conference would, by now, be reconsidering their options. They didn't generate anything that looked dangerous and their approach to the game was often pedestrian and looked jaded. Their attack might have been trying hard, but up against Canvey's in-form defence, they made very little headway.

When the half-time whistle went, even the home fans were surprised that the score was still at nil - nil.

The second half started in much the same way as the first, but a goal by Wayne Vaughan after just two minutes seemed to lift Canvey's game and from there on in, there was only one team in it. When, on 47 minutes, Stimson controlled the ball and knocked it on to Vaughan, the new signing went for goal. At first it appeared that his shot was a little too tame and it looked like another near miss. However, when the fans saw the net bulge they knew that, at last, the duck had been broken and hoped for a feast of goals.

The feast never materialised, but what did follow was a great display of football with only one team really in the game. The midfield took control and Sutton suddenly found it very difficult to get any kind of hold on the game. True, they did make one or two breaks, but they came about following speculative pounces rather than as a result of skilful build-up play.

When Tilson came on for the injured Davidson in the 70th minute, the balance of the team at the back might have been upset, but Tilly slotted into his left-back role with relative ease and Canvey continued to dominate.

There were no more goals, but there were certainly near misses and 'might have beens' with almost all the Canvey forward line getting involved in the action - even defender Peter Smith coming forward for the occasional pop at goal. The constant pressure should have resulted in a fistful of goals, but football is a funny ol' game and the ball was not prepared to go into the net.

For a sustained period of the second half Canvey were playing exhibition football and both sets of fans were impressed. It was a well deserved victory for the Islanders who can now put the initial home defeat against Farnborough behind them and take great satisfaction in taking six points, away from home, against tough opponents. Should the season continue at this pace, well, who knows......?

Match Report by Merv

Teams

 - 

Sutton United - Gareth Howells, John Westcott, Ryan Gray, Gwynne Berry, Ryan Palmer, Dave Harlow, Danny Bolt, Paul Harford, Nko Ekoku, Andy Salako, Paul Sears. Subs: Andy Walker, Richard Thompson, Danny Hodges

Canvey - Ashley Harrison, Peter Smith, Craig Davidson, Micky Bennett, Mick Bodley, Mark Stimson, John Kennedy, Chris Duffy, Neil Gregory, Wayne Vaughan, Steve Parmenter, Subs: Steve Clark, Andy Jones, Steve Tilson

Weather Conditions: Mild and wet