JONAH TO THE RESCUE

It was that man Andy Jones who came to Canvey's rescue tonight, slamming home a 74th minute equaliser but then being sent for an early bath just nine minutes later for getting involved in an incident between Harrison and Heybridge's Kris Lee.

It was always going to be one of those nights.  Nothing would go right for Canvey and no matter how close they came to snatching all three points, the ball just would not go into the net.  But it wasn't for lack of trying.  Tonight we saw some of the most entertaining and skillful football from Canvey that there has ever been.  Peter Smith was superb and his overlapping runs down the left meant that Canvey played wide and used the space to great effect.

But no matter how good the visitors attack was, the home defence had an answer.  They stood solid and firm and, with just a little bit of luck, they held out and let nothing pass - until Andy Jones let rip with a dynamic 18yd shot that nobody could have stopped.

The game was only five minutes old when Steve Parmenter was chopped down quite blatantly but referee Gary Ives chose to ignore the incident.  He later chose to ignore Gregory being pulled down in the penalty area and generally lost control of the game.  There were far too many skirmishes that marred the play and the Jones sending off came as a result of the man in black never really getting control of the game.  Ashley Harrison came off his line to make a daring save at the feet of Kris Lee.  He appeared to be kicked by the No. 10 for his trouble and it looked like Jonah foolishly went in to try and sort things out, instead of leaving it to the ref.

The first half was quite evenly balanced with Heybridge coming close on 8 minutes and Canvey coming even closer on 10.  The ball was swinging from end to end and after 14 minutes Harrison made a half-hearted punch to clear the ball, only to see it fall into the path of ex-Canvey man Chris Payne.  He sent in a terrific shot from 15yds that Canvey tried to hook away, but it was always going goalward.

Canvey tried so hard to get back on level terms and once again young Wayne Vaughan was terrific up front.  The energy of Vaughan + Kennedy + Parmenter is really something to see.  Add the aerial power of Neil Gregory and there should have been a whole host of goals.  Sadly there wasn't.  Instead there was just a host of near misses and might-have-beens.

Neil Gregory was through in the 21st minute and was just teeing up his shot when he was mercilessly upended in the 18yd box, but, unbelieveably, the man in black waved play on.  Undaunted, Canvey stepped up the pressure and started to swing the ball from one side of the park to the other, but they just could not break through the solid home defence.

The game might have become boring at this stage as Heybridge settled down to keep their slender lead by bringing almost everyone back to defend.  Crosses came over from Smith, from Parmenter, from Kennedy but nothing was converted.

The second half almost got off to a flying start when Wayne Vaughan tried to lob the 'keeper, but unfortunately the ball went just over the bar.  Then just a few minutes later Neil Gregory sent in a cracking shot that hit the post.  Then there was a five minute spell when Canvey set up shot after shot, but, sadly, there were more stumbles, fumbles and bobbles than you could shake a stick at.  The ball was not going into the net.

Until Jonah came on for Kennedy, that is.  With almost his first kick he found himself on the edge of the box when Tilly came up to take a free kick.  The ball went into the 6yd box, was only half cleared and it landed right on Jonah's left foot.  He buried the ball and Canvey were now back in the game.

All credit to Heybridge, they defended well and stood firm.  No matter how inventive Canvey's build up play was, how skillfully they moved the ball around, they could not get deep enough into the danger area.  With Jones sent off, the home side should have shown more flair up front to win the game back, but they seemed content to defend and play for the draw.

A game full of excitement, incident and action!  How could Canvey play so well and not get the three points?  Why would a team playing against 10 men at home want to settle in for a draw?  Why are match officials, even at this level of football, so inconsistent?

It's a funny ol' game.

Match Report by Merv.

Weather Conditions: Wet and windy evening.

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