ANOTHER WELL DESERVED THREE POINTS

This was yet another game where Canvey dominated the play for almost all the 90 minutes, but came away with only one goal.  But it was one more goal than the opponents and that's what counts when the three points are handed out at 5 o'clock.  The result was rarely in doubt this afternoon as Canvey mounted attack after attack, each of the forwards putting in a great deal of pace, skill and determination.

For long spells the Slough defence looked at sixes and sevens and rarely got themselves organised to thwart the pace of Wayne Vaughan, the cunning or Steve Parmenter of the aerial domination of Neil Gregory.

At the other end, another well organised performance by Canvey's defence made sure that the visitors got very few actual balls into the danger area.  The truth is that there was only one realistic shot on Canvey's goal, coming from Keith McPherson on 50 minutes when he headed well and forced a dramatic save from Ashley Harrison.

Chris Duffy almost got things off to a flying start when he burst through after only six minutes and with odds of  6 to 1 on him in the pre-match 'First Goal' competition, many people held their breath as the ball just inched over the top of the bar.  This was followed quickly with shots from Vaughan and then later from Gregory and home fans were hoping for a feast of goals.

The feast didn't materialise, but nevertheless it was an afternoon of great football.  To their credit, when Slough did get possession in midfield they did push it around well, but they never managed to get near enough to the Canvey goal to turn that possession into read advantage.  There were too many obstacles in the way, notably Mark Stimson and Peter Smith who both played particularly well.

Slough were playing ex-Australian International 'keeper Steve Mautone in goal and although he was guilty of one or two fumbles, he did pull off a superb save on 24 minutes when Kennedy put Vaughan through and the plucky youngster hit a low hard drive to the 'keepers left.  Somehow or other, Mautone got down to it and the moment was lost.

Chris Duffy was unlucky to be booked on 25 minutes when Slough were awarded a dangerous looking free-kick about 30yds out.  The ball was hit hard and low and in an instinctive lunge, Duffers got himself in the way, handling the ball in the process.  Many thought it was a brave defensive effort, but referee Mr Chittenden decided that Duffers hadn't moved back the necessary 10yds and reached for his yellow card.  

What amazed fans the most was Me Chittenden's decision not to award a penalty when Neil Gregory was blatantly bundled off the ball in the Slough area.  Unfortunately the official was not up with the play and I doubt if he even saw the infringement.  There were too many stops in the game and it was a pity the game was not allowed to flow more evenly.

The goal that won the game came just before the half-time break.  It was a superb team effort with Gregory sending a good ball out to John Kennedy on the left.  JK started a goalward run that always looked dangerous.  Everyone around me thought he was going to shoot and there was a danger that he had waited too long, Mautone having narrowed the angle quite effectively.  Then came a great pass inside to Wayne Vaughan who had little difficulty hammering the ball into a now empty net.

If the first half belonged to Canvey with only one goal, the second half certainly belonged to them, even without a goal.  Except for the effort by McPherson, there was little for Harrison to do except watch as the mid-field in front of him took control.  There was a lot of pressure on Mautone who was often rattled and he certainly gave his defenders some stick for the lapses that they showed.  

Canvey had so many near misses - Parmenter - Gregory - Vaughan - Vaughan all taking turns.  Then Jeff King made his three substitutions which meant that there was always a fresh pair of legs to run at the defence.

Mautone was lucky to be shown only a yellow card on 83 minutes when he rather stupidly attacked Andy Jones in an altercation on the edge of the box.  Once again the ref. hadn't kept up play and so, just to be sure, he booked both Jones and the keeper.  Another rather poor decision from the man in black.

Canvey held out - another goal would have been a relief for the fans - and when the whistle finally went it was a jubilant team that went back to the dressing room, knowing that these well deserved points take them to second in the table, three points behind Farnborough who have yet to concede a league goal.

Match Report by Merv. Pictures by Ian

Weather Conditions: Warm, dry afternoon with a downpour after 80 minutes

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