Canvey Go Marching On

This was not the most sparkling performance of all time, but on a wet, cold Tuesday evening with the sleet blowing across the heavily sanded Grays' pitch, it was good enough.  With three more important points in the bag, there were few complaints from the faithful Yellow Army who braved the elements to cheer their team on.

The fixture congestion is now getting to be a real headache and Super-Secretary Frances Roche was praying that the weather would hold off long enough to actually get this game out of the way.  The pitch was dryish, flatish and well sanded.  But it was the same for both teams, even though it did restrict any possibility of open, skillful play.

Grays went straight onto the offensive from the kick-off and tried to set the quick pace.  Canvey appeared surprised by such a lively start and some of the defending was desperate, to say the least.  But they say the best form of defence is attack and so after seven minutes, that's just what Canvey did.  

Chris Duffy had one of his better games tonight and he sent over some telling crosses from the right.  One of his best came when he sent over a high, curling ball that seemed to hang in the air.  It landed and was cleared back to the edge of the box where Neil Gregory was lurking.  He met the ball first time and it sped past the Grays' keeper, Paul Newell, and into the back of the net.

From this point on the game seemed to take on a manic element with legs and bodies flying at the ball at both ends.  Grays' best effort came when Sammy Sogbe jinxed his way past at least three Canvey defenders and got in a terrific shot that was fast and high.  It beat Ashley Harrison but, fortunately for the visitors, was just too wide to count.

Chris Duffy was involved in Canvey's second goal when he came in hard from the right and, seeing a gap open in front of him, let go a powerful shot that Newell could only just block, but not hold.  This time it was Wayne Vaughan who was on hand to bang home the loose ball and make it 2 - 0.

It stayed that way for the rest of the half with shots at both end but no real quality football.

After the break Grays came out once again firing on all cylinders.  They tried to throw everything at Canvey and, once again, there was some manic defending at the back.  But gradually the visitors got a grip back on the game and, in truth, Grays rarely produced anything that looked remotely dangerous for Harrison.

The game was clinched when, on 57 minutes Billy Manuel was judged to have handled the ball inside the area.  Only the linesman seemed to notice, but his flag went straight up and the referee had little option but to award the spot-kick.  Steve Tilson came up to take the kick and, as usual, he made no mistake.  The ball was firmly in the back of the net and the score was 3 - 0.

Sammy Cooper came on for John O'Sullivan but it has to be said neither he nor Jeff Brazier, both ex-Canvey players, appeared to be up to the present Canvey quality standard.  Neither of them would find it easy to get a place in the present Canvey set-up.  Andy Douglas looked to be the most effective Grays forward but it is always difficult for an opposing forward to look impressive when they are up against the likes of Steve Ward, Mick Bodley or Ben Chenery.

So, one of the five games Canvey have in hand over Farnborough has resulted in three valuable points.  But there is still a long way to go.  Even without the Essex Senior Cup Final, there are 18 games to go before the end of the season which is, after all, only 45 days away.

Match Report by Merv.

Weather Conditions:  Very cold with rain and sleet falling throughout.

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