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'Reserves' Go Out Of Ryman Cup A team made up mostly of reserves bowed out of the Ryman League Cup tonight in front of a crowd that was officially announced as 70 but which was sparse by any standards. With the enormous backlog of games now facing Canvey and the prospect of three games per week now an odds-on certainty, Canvey can be excused for using the game as a trial for some of the younger talent at the club, whilst also giving much needed match practice to first team players who have, for whatever reason, been sidelined for the last couple of matches. It was good to see Peter Smith's first game after his recent shoulder operation and Micky Bennett looked like he has shaken off his recent injury troubles. As it worked out, there wasn't a single player out there tonight who was in the team from last Saturday (the only exception was Ian Thompson who came on as substitute against Telford). In spite of being matched against less experienced opposition, Croydon were worth their five goals and were easily the better team all night. Shroder didn't have a single save to make in the first half and only one in the second. Meanwhile, Canvey's reserve keeper, 16yr old Brad King, was kept busy all night and, apart from the ability to take out crosses with the consummate ease that we normally witness from Ashley Harrison, he acquitted himself really rather well. Danger man for Croydon was Omari Coleman who looked tasty every time he got the ball into the Canvey penalty area. What he might have done against Wardy, Bods and Chenners is another story that we will see played out later in the season but tonight at least, he looked to be a class player. With Canvey playing some experienced players in the team, it is a little surprising that there wasn't a more experienced striker, or at least someone up front to act as target man. Ian Thompson didn't really find a role to play and on the few occasions when balls did come forward there really wasn't anyone who knew what to do with it. I don't think the Croydon defence had too much to do to keep a clean scoresheet. Home fans, who probably didn't know the difference between this Canvey team and the regular one, couldn't work out how this amiable but rather ineffective squad could be second in the Premier League, how they had beaten Port Vale, Stevenage and Telford and yet, on tonight's showing at least, look so young and inept. Shhhh. As we have yet to meet Croydon in the league, let's keep that one a secret! Sorry,
reduced match report only. Teams Canvey - Brad King, Peter Smith, Craig Davidson, Mickey Bennett, Daniel Short, Adam Miller, Adam Tanner, Matt Wray, Danny Hill, Chris Elms, Ian Thompson. Subs: Mark Quarrell, Ian Wastell, Paul Whipp. Croydon - Craig Shroder, Barry
Kingsford, Graham Harper, Mark Dickinson, Craig Dunbar, Ali Reeve, ? Dickson,
Ben Judge, Omari Coleman, Eben Allen, ? Crane. Subs: Nic McDonald,
Chris Currie, ? Barber. Weather Conditions: Mild with a heavy downpour after an hour on an already heavy pitch. What did you think of
today's match?
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