Canvey Go Top

With Farnborough losing unexpectedly tonight at home to Heybridge Swifts, Canvey at last go top of the Ryman Premier League - and rightly so.  Their performances overall this season have been excellent and this side looks as if it could go all the way.

The team has come together well, with just the right blend of youth and experience and of running and cunning.  There is now strength in every department and when you think that tonight's squad was without Steve Ward, Mick Bodley or Andy Jones, you begin to realise that Jeff King and Glen Pennyfather really mean business.  Morale at the club is excellent and confidence on the terraces is high.  Even Maidenhead away from home on a Tuesday saw the faithful following of fans stood under the shelter, getting behind their team, every inch of the way.

Canvey were much the better team on the night.  Maidenhead were no pushover, but they just didn't have that extra something that might make you think they were winners.  From early on in the first half Canvey got into the driving seat and, apart from minor blips, stayed there for most of the evening.  The defence was tight, the midfield assured and the attacking players never stopped running all night.  Peter Smith gave another excellent performance at the back and Neil Gregory played one of the best matches I have seen him play for the club.  Add to this the non-stop running of Vaughan and Parmenter, the midfield skills of Stimson and Duffy and the points were almost assured.

Maidenhead proved to be a good footballing side.  Their defence was well marshalled and put up a good fight.  When No. 7 Tim Cook was playing deep at the back he took control and organised his fellow players into a tight unit.  There was also strength at the front, especially in the superb running and ball control of Channell and Creighton.  Whenever they ran directly at the Canvey defence they caused trouble.  The visitors found it relatively easy to take out the long passes, the high crosses and the threaded through balls, but attackers running directly at them seemed to cause something of a problem.  But at least if the defenders were beaten there was always Mr Reliable in goal.  Ashley Harrison had another of his terrific games and got Canvey off the hook on one or two occasions thanks to his agility and bravery.

Jeff Brazier came close to scoring early in the first half when a corner from Tilson was well met by Pin-up and the ball had to be saved off the line.  But fans were confident that a goal would not be long in coming as Canvey played some lovely two-touch football, keeping it on the floor and moving it about well.  When the goal did come it resembled Vaughan's third against Dulwich last Saturday.  This time it was Neil Gregory who sent over an inch-perfect cross from the right and once again Vaughan connected with it superbly and sent the ball screaming past the hapless Barnard and into the net.

The first half finished with Canvey just one:nil up, it might have been more but for some solid defensive work by Maidenhead.  But as soon as the second half started one sensed that there would be more goals to come.  Fans only had to wait two minutes before Neil Gregory seized on a poor goal kick by Barnard and brought the ball under control well.  He set off towards goal and being all alone, tucked the ball under the advancing keeper to make it two:nil.

There were no more goals, only near misses and might-have-beens.  Maidenhead fought hard to get back into the game and, credit due, they never even looked like giving up.  They tried to lift their game and their fans got behind them.  They forced a series of corners, had a certain goal headed off the line and generally made a nuisance of themselves in the Canvey half.  But they lacked the edge that might have given them the goals they needed.  Canvey fans rarely had the need to hold their breath as their side never really looked like giving up the lead they had taken.

When the ball did come out of the Canvey half it looked dangerous.  Tilson was always just behind the attack, pushing balls into dangerous spaces and Brazier just loves to come up and take a pop at goal.  Steve Clark came on for Parmenter and the pressure was kept up, but still no more goals.

A good game of football for any neutral in the ground, the excitement on the pitch more than making up for the dreadful weather conditions.  The reward for a 170 mile round trip in the pouring rain?  Three very valuable points and a place sitting on top of the table.  Well worth it.

Match Report by Merv.

Weather Conditions: Very, very wet and rainy.

What did you think of today's match? 
Who was YOUR man of the match?
Any comments at all on the match?
 
Share your thoughts on the
Discussion Board - yes it is back!