Treble?  It's Still Possible.

While Farnborough were losing two points at Aldershot this afternoon, Canvey were picking up three more valuable points at Gravesend to keep their championship hopes alive.  It wasn't a quality performance and G&N fans must be wondering what they did wrong to lose.  But the truth is - they didn't score more goals than Canvey, simple as that!  They squandered the chances they made and they had no strategy for getting past the usually impeccable Canvey defence that today, one has to admit, was playing well below par.

The pitch was extremely heavy and congratulations must go to the G&N groundstaff who worked hard all morning to get the game played.  But conditions were the same for both teams, the difference being that the Canvey lads appeared to run out of steam before their opponents, the demands of this busy season obviously taking their toll.

The Canvey starting line-up was slightly different from usual with Mark Stimson and Ben Chenery absent from the defence and John Kennedy absent from the attack.  But the squad was still a strong one and from the off they looked more than capable of holding their own.  When Wayne Vaughan shot the Gulls into an 8th minute lead it looked as if things would settle down in Canvey's favour.  He picked up a long through-ball on the edge of the G&N penalty area and having the luxury of so much space, he placed his shot beautifully to the left of the advancing Darren Smith in the home goal.  Gravesend were defending from the middle of the pitch which was leaving a lot of space behind them, ready for fast runners like Wayne Vaughan to cause problems.  Pity that not enough balls were lobbed over the defence to exploit this opportunity.

Chances were being created by Chris Duffy who managed to send over several dangerous looking crosses from the left.  Peter Smith, back in the team to gain much needed match practice, was making some good runs down the right, but he lacked some of his old magic and never managed to create the danger that the visiting fans craved.

Canvey conceded a free-kick on 16 minutes when Mickey Bennett was shown a yellow card for a rash challenge out on Gravesend's right.  The kick was taken and found the head of Rob Owen who nodded home from close range and suddenly the scores were level.  It was the aerial attacks by G&N that Canvey found so difficult to defend.  Ashley Harrison was kept under a lot of pressure and it was thanks to some of his superb skill that the scoreline stayed so close.

After a period of unsettled play, Canvey got themselves back into the game and both Gregory and Vaughan were unlucky to see shots blocked or pushed away for corners.  The biggest let-off for Gravesend came on 27 minutes when Chris Duffy ran through but was brought down in the most blatant fashion by Smith on the edge of the 6yd box.  Even the home fans thought a  penalty was the only outcome but, unbelievably, Mr Melin the referee didn't see a thing.  The appeal was a loud one and so he looked to his assistant for re-assurance, but he too seemed to have been distracted and so the penalty was not awarded and the moment was lost.

Che Stadhart always looked dangerous for the home side and he forced Harrison into making some desperate saves.  But the Canvey defence also added to Ash's worries with some of their erratic back-passes.

The first half finished one-one but after the break it was G&N who came out and seemed to take control of the game.  Canvey seemed to lose their shape and the midfield all but collapsed.  The only reason Gravesend didn't extend their lead was their appalling finishing.  When a team like Canvey gives you so many uncharacteristic spaces at the back, you have to punish them.  Or at least you do if you hope to finish as runners-up.  G&N could not punish Canvey and in spite of several goal-line clearances, the scoreline didn't change.

In the meantime, Canvey were making some chances of their own at the other end, but too often those chances were squandered.  The miss of the season must go to Steve Parmenter who was given the solid gold opportunity to make it 2 - 1 just after the break.  Under pressure, Smith  fluffed a clearance and only managed to kick the ball to the edge of the penalty area, right to the feet of Parms.  Now, in a one on one situation, the talented No. 11 only had to slot it past the keeper to put his team into the lead.  The miss was amazing.  

When Canvey did get the ball forward it seemed that they wanted to walk the ball into the net and nobody was prepared to take a shot.  Duffers and Wayno were both guilty but the problem was more deep seated than this.  After weeks of playing attractive football that has seen Conference teams frustrated and thwarted, the team today seemed to lose its way.  The magic ingredient was missing and there was no sparkle.  But perhaps we fans are getting too greedy...

The winning goal came when substitute John Kennedy opened up the right flank and sent over a terrific cross that fell to another substitute, Ian Thompson.  In what looked like a repeat of Friday's dramatic last minute winner, Tommo set himself up to score but he just couldn't connect.  However, Wayne Vaughan was lurking and he didn't miss.  The ball skidded through to him and he hit it first time.  True it went in off the post, but it went in all the same and the points were assured.

The goal lifted Canvey and they sat out the remaining ten minutes quite comfortably.  Three more points that, quite ironically, only serve to add to Jeff's worries.  Now that Farnborough have dropped four points over the Easter weekend the championship is within grasp.  Just how far can you push these boys with games almost every day for the next couple of weeks?  With the fixture backlog the way it is, just how realistic is it to finish on top?  But stranger things have happened.  How realistic was it three months ago that Canvey would get into the FA Trophy final and that they would be looking at a treble?

 Match Report by Merv

Weather Conditions: Dull & cold, on a very sloppy pitch

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