Three Points in the Freezing Cold

On a night when the temperature was forecast to go as low as -5^o fans were warmed by the three vital points collected by Canvey in this vital pre-cursor to the big clash on Saturday at Farnborough.  Before tonight's game, Hampton and Richmond Borough were lying fifth in the table, just one place behind Canvey with both teams on 39 points.  However, in spite of a good league run recently, Hampton have played four games more than Canvey and so perhaps their position is a little flattering.  With Aldershot's game at Chesham off tonight things are getting rather tight at the top.  Gravesend & Northfleet's 2 - 1 win at home to Harrow Borough tonight puts them into second place and Canvey find themselves third.  What a clash it will be on Saturday!

Canvey took the lead after five minutes when John Kennedy was brought down just outside the penalty area by Tony Houghton.  Steve Tilson came up to take the kick and while the Hampton keeper was organising his defensive wall, Tilly quickly put the ball through to Neil Gregory who wasted no time in selecting his spot and tucking the ball away.  The visiting defence still hadn't realised what had happened until they saw Hodson picking the ball out net.

Hampton are a big youthful side who move the ball about well.  They were very fast and gave Canvey very little room on the ball.  They were perhaps guilty of being rather physical at the back and it was no surprise that Nos. 4, 5 & 6 were all shown the yellow card.

The game moved quickly from one end to the other and the small band of Hampton fans had several near misses to cheer about.  One of them came when Mick Bodley tested Ashley Harrison with an unfortunate deflection that forced the home keeper to reach high and wide.  But it was No. 9 Warren Williams who came closest after 15 minutes when a clever lob put him through in plenty of space, but his shot was wide.

Canvey almost made it two when another Tilson free-kick set up Gregory to knock it back to the advancing Steve Parmenter. Unfortunately Parms couldn't connect and his shot was easily saved.  But while fans were applauding this near miss, the ball was quickly down at the other end and this time it was Gary Holloway who forcing Ash to make another of his stunning saves.  Mind you, it was a bad clearance by Ash himself that set the opportunity up, but perhaps Holloway might have made more of it.

In spite of the cold the game was hotting up.  There was some good football by both sides and it was entertaining stuff.  For Canvey, Neil Gregory was impressive and for Hampton it was Warren Williams.  In defence Mick Bodley was solid in the middle and the speed of Ben Chenery made it difficult for the visitors to break through.

Hodson, the Hampton keeper, brought off a superb save on the half-hour to deny Gregory the chance to grab Canvey's second.  It was a fantastic header with 'Goal' written all over it, until Hodson's lightning reaction pushed the ball out for a corner, that is.

Although the first half finished with only one goal, fans certainly got good value for money.  The quality of the football was good and there were enough near misses at both ends to keep up the excitement factor.  The second half was much the same.  The grass was slowly turning white as the frost took a hold, which was more than the players could, many of them slipping and sliding in the difficult conditions.

To prove his earlier save was no fluke, Hodson pulled off another terrific save on 53 minutes, this time from Steve Tilson.  The keeper was hassled into making a poor clearance that fell at Tilly's feet some 30yds out.  The shot was powerful and dangerous looking and again it was only the agility and speed of the keeper that kept it out of the net.

Having been booked earlier in the first half, No. 6 Fiston Manuella was very lucky not to have been shown a second yellow card on 76 minutes when, after a skirmish with Steve Parmenter, he actually kicked the ball at Parms, but was not even spoken to by the Ref.  But the physical element of Hampton's game does not overshadow their fast, skilful play and the way they moved the ball around the pitch.  But they couldn't break down a tight Canvey defence which looked on top form tonight.

Three very useful points and the stage is now set for a cracking good game away to Farnborough next Saturday.

Match Report by Merv.

Weather Conditions:  Very cold but dry.  Hard, frosty pitch 

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