ITS  HAPPY  HOUR  AT  PARK  LANE  AS
CANVEY  GRAB  ANOTHER  DOUBLE

I hate to use clichés, but this really was a game of two halves.  We saw Canvey's fastest goal of the season scored by Neil Gregory after just 45 seconds, but the following 44 minutes were pretty dull, at least they were for the home fans.  Dulwich must have been absolutely delighted to go in at half-time 2-1 in the lead and they must have been wondering if they could cause a giant upset by taking the three points in this top versus bottom clash.

However, the second half was a totally different beast altogether.  Canvey enjoyed almost total control and had more near misses than you could shake a stick at.  Had the Dulwich keeper/manager Les Cleevely not played out of his skin in the way he did today, the score could well have been 7-2 to Canvey and not the modest 3-2 that it was. That score-line hides quite a story because anybody who tells you that this was an evenly balanced game is talking rubbish.  Never have so many shots been sent goalwards with so few going in.

The Park Lane pitch was looking in a sorry state with several yards of sand spread through the morning in an attempt to mop up some of the surface water.  Although 'Mick the Pitch' worked hard, the playing surface was difficult and there were several areas where the ball just would not move.  It was only out on the wings that the ball would bounce and it was here that John Kennedy enjoyed one of his best games of the season.

Many fans were still getting into their positions on the terraces when Steve Tilson went up to take a corner.  The ball came over and Neil Gregory was on hand to head it in, with the clock showing just 45 seconds.  As Canvey are on something of a run at the moment, and Dulwich are languishing at the bottom of the Premier League, fans thought that perhaps this was going to be a high scoring game  and Canvey would have it all their own way.  This was not to be the case.

Dulwich got stuck in and for the rest of the first half they gave at least as good as they got and it was difficult to believe their lowly league position.  Ex-Canvey man Carl Bartley was enjoying some space up front and Sheldon Brown impressive in defence.  Within the first half hour Dulwich had forced half a dozen corners to Canvey's one.  But there was little real action from either side to get the fans excited.  Canvey were putting some good moves together, but Cleevely was on top form and nobody could find a route past him.  

No. 4 Dave Richards got the visitors back into the game on 20 minutes when a cross from deep on the right wasn't properly cleared, Harrison only managing a punch-out.  The ball fell to the feet of Richards and the lanky No. 4 sent in an unstoppable shot to bring the scores back to level.  This was the signal for Dulwich to step their game up a notch and, unbelievably, it was Canvey who were having to pull the stops out in defence.

Then, on 26 minutes, disaster stuck for the Islanders when another poor clearance, this time a cross coming over from the left, landed at the feet of No.5 Sheldon Brown.  He made no mistake from 18yds out as he sent in a scorching shot to put the visitors into an unexpected lead.

Long shots from the edge of the box became the staple diet of the Dulwich side but, fortunately for Canvey, most of them landed up in the car park.  Canvey, on the other hand, continued to try to get the ball out onto the drier flanks and worked on converting the crosses.  Greggers looked impressive in the middle, but it was one of those days when you began to think that nothing was going to go in.  Canvey's nearest effort to a goal came when Andy Jones battled well out on the left and sent over a wonderful cross that went over the keeper's head and had 'GOAL' written all over it.  Unfortunately, it hit the upright and although fans thought it would rebound into the net, it actually bounced out.  Straight to the feet of Steve Parmenter who was so surprised to find himself two feet out, in front of an empty goal, that he just couldn't react quickly enough and so the ball ran between his open legs and on to safety.

Parms almost made up for his momentary lapse just two minutes before half-time when he got onto the end of a good pass from Davidson.  However, Cleevely pulled off another one of his many terrific saves of the day and the visitors were able to hold onto their lead until the half-time whistle.

The second half was the start of a totally different game of football.  Whereas the first half might have been even-stevens, this was now Canvey, Canvey, Canvey.  From the off, they were up for it and intent on getting hold of the three points.  Had it not been for Cleevely, the game would have quickly been sewn up and there would have been a fistful of goals.  Jonah, Parms and Mick Bodley can all consider themselves victims of this terrific keeper who, having had a mediocre season so far, decided to have his 'Game of the Season' at Park Lane.

There were so many shots on goal, so many chances created and so much of the ball crossing the Dulwich penalty area that it was surely only a matter of time before at least one would go in.  "What do we have to do to score?" was the comment being mumbled around the ground.  Meanwhile the visiting Dulwich fans had little to cheer about as all the action was at the other end of the ground.

So many chances were lost, either through a split second delay in getting in the shot, or through the agility of the keeper, that fans feared the worst.  How could Canvey lose points to such a low placed side?  Why couldn't they score?  How can you have 90% of the play but only 33% of the goals?

Then it all started to happen.  JK was working wonders out on the flank and he sent over a peach of a cross that Greggers controlled well.  He nodded it down to the feet of Steve Tilson who was so composed, so determined not to see another near miss, that he slotted it past Cleevely perfectly to bring the scores back level.  It was a great goal and an important one.  It proved to Canvey that the game could be won and they stepped their game up accordingly.

With 10 minutes to go it was another great run by JK that enabled him to cross to Tilly.  From 12yds out he demonstrated the same composure and with consummate skill he put Canvey into a very well deserved lead.  This put extra pressure on Dulwich and they wanted some points so desperately that they started sending more men forward, which in turn left more space at the back.  Again, it was down to Man of the Match Les Cleevely to keep the Canvey's score-line down to single figures.

Wayne Vaughan came on for the injured (and exhausted) Andy Jones but he was unable to extend the lead any further.  He had a golden opportunity when an inch perfect cross came over from Parms but, uncharacteristically for Canvey's top scorer, he connected with his head but sent the ball wide of an empty goalmouth.

It was Wayno who was involved on 86 minutes when he was put through for a one on one with Cleevely, but was bundled off the ball by Richards.  "Play on," said the ref. and the chance was lost.  But two minutes later exactly the same thing happened, but this time the ref. actually managed to keep up with the play and he blew up and pointed to the penalty spot.  After consulting his linesman he then changed his mind and awarded a free kick just on the edge of the box.  Dave Richards, however, didn't see the resulting free-kick as he was shown a red card and went off for an early shower.

Three important points for Canvey that keeps their title hopes alive.  It looked a bit doubtful in the first half, but the second session more than made up for it with all the thrills, spills and near misses.  Not to mention two superb goals from Steve Tilson

Match Report by Merv. Pictures by Ian.

Weather Conditions:  . Sunny Spells & Dry.  Pitch very heavy and wet.

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