Canvey Romp Home

The scoreline suggests that Canvey had this one all their own way, but for any neutral in the ground they may have gone away wondering which was the premier side and which one was the division two.  Wakering might so easily have bagged a brace of goals, but their finishing was absolutely appalling.  Too high, too wide or straight into the arms of Ashley Harrison - it was the same old story, time after time.  Except for Paul Wheeler's 25th minute shot that actually landed in the back of the net.  Pity the lino had already flagged for a handball.

What were Wakering doing, having so many shots?  That's what Canvey fans couldn't understand.  The answer is, they had so many shots because they were sharp, they marked well, they were able to run at the Canvey defence and they were brimming with confidence.  All in all, it was a spirited performance from a talented team.

For the first 25 minutes it was Canvey, Canvey, Canvey.  Manager Jeff King took the opportunity to change the team around, giving some players a well earned rest, giving others a try-out after a long lay-off or injury.  Passing was slick, marking was tight and players were using the space well.

Chris Duffy was unlucky after four minutes when Wayne Vaughan set him up brilliantly, but the well placed shot was cleared off the line.  However, it came as no surprise when Wayne Vaughan grabbed one of his own just two minutes later.  Steve Clark tried a shot from the edge of the penalty area which was blocked, the rebound falling to Wayno who put an enormous amount of spin on the ball and it went swirling round Staines and into the net.

He almost made it two-nil just a few minutes later when Adam Miller put him through in the middle of the field and he started a goalward run from 25yds out.  With a terrific turn of speed he approached the keeper in a one-on-one situation but, unfortunately, he ran on just a bit too far and could only manage to hit the side netting with his shot.

On 11 minutes Steve Parmenter found himself in a similar position, but this time Parms lobbed the advancing keeper and saw his ball drop sweetly into the empty net, Staines stranded in no man's land.  Canvey fans were confident that goals were going to keep coming all night.  The football was a joy to watch and the goals went a long way to wiping out sad memories of last Saturday's dismal performance.

Although Wakering were suffering from a hard-working and slick Canvey attack, they were sending out the signals that they wanted to stay in this game.  Their midfield was lively and their running at goal was dangerous looking.  It was in their finishing that they looked like a team from a lower division.

Parms made it three-nil on 25 minutes and again it was a long range shot, this time low and hard, that beat the keeper.  He had plenty of time to see the 25 yard shot, but it was hit so hard that he couldn't get down to it.

The scoreline stayed the same for the rest of the half, although Wakering were gradually getting back into the game, without ever looking too dangerous.  It was in the second half that things started to look more evenly balanced.  Paul Flack hit the post within two minutes of the game re-starting and this was a sign of things to come.  

Chances were now being created at both ends and it was only Wakering's erratic finishing that kept them off the scoresheet.  They were handed one or two scoring opportunities from some sloppy defending, but never managed to punish Canvey.  Flack always looked dangerous and both Wheeler and Evans looked dangerous with their direct running at the defence.  Too much space was being left on Canvey's far post (how many times have I written that, this season?) and No. 3 Neville Hickton was enjoying, if not converting, his goalscoring opportunities.

All credit to Canvey though.  They were three goals in the lead, playing against enthusiastic but inferior opposition, in a competition that is not as important as other games looming on the horizon.  Who could blame them if they tended to coast for the rest of the half.

Paul Flack scored a well-deserved goal on 68 minutes following a blunder by Micky Bennett just outside his own area.  It confirmed the message to the rest of the Wakering team that they could stay in the game and all credit to them, they never eased off at all.  They took advantage of some uncharacteristically bad clearances from Canvey's defence but the story was always the same; they got in front of goal and went to pieces.

Steve Tilson came on for the industrious and hard-working Steve Parmenter after 77 minutes and he managed to inject some extra drive and pace into the Canvey midfield.  He was calling for the ball well and sent some telling passes forward.  More chances were now being created and there might well have been a few more goals.  Vaughan was unlucky to hit the post on 84 minutes - the keeper well and truly beaten and Steve Clark got his head to one or two tasty looking crosses.

In the end it was a clear victory for the home team.  The visitors might have scored two or three, but Canvey always did enough to keep them at bay, without breaking into too much of a sweat.  A good result and good preparation for the BIG one next Saturday. 

Match Report by Merv.

Weather Conditions:  Dry, clear evening.

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