One  More  Point  For  Runners  Up   Position

For such an important game as the one at Farnborough, it is obvious that Canvey were able to find that extra bit of strength in order to put up a first class fight.  It worked because they came away with all three points.  Now that top of the table pride has been settled, it seems only fair that the lads should step down just a tad for the game at Hampton & Richmond.

H&R wanted to win it and gave a very spirited performance.  Canvey didn’t want to lose it and did just enough to grab a share of the points.  It wasn’t the most exciting game of the season, the crowd was sparse (less than 20 Yellow Army – more like Dad’s Army) and the pitch was only slightly drier that the game that was rained off a week ago.

It was Hampton who went into a shock lead with just 5 minutes on the stopwatch.  Craig Maskell got in a powerful shot that Harrison did well to block.  Dudley Gardner, however, was close by and was in like greased lightning to knock home the rebound.  Canvey fans groaned with a feeling that it might all go pear shaped.  However, within 60 seconds the groans turned to cheers as Neil Gregory chased a ball into the H&R penalty area and did really well to keep possession.  He managed a nice tap on to Steve Parmenter who closed in on goal, drew the goalkeeper off his line and then smashed a superb shot into far corner of the net.  Back on level terms and looking a lot happier.

Wayne Vaughan had several opportunities through the evening but his tired legs didn’t seem to have the power to convert his chances into goals.  Even top goal scorers have the right to feel totally drained by the hideous fixture debacle.

Canvey’s unofficial Man of the Match for the second time in two successive evenings must be Adam Miller.  The boy is as keen as mustard and no matter what the opposition throws at him, he keeps coming back for more.  He had a stonker of a shot in the 20^th minute that Talbot did extremely well to tip over the bar, it was so powerful.

Richard Taylor came on as substitute for injured Jamie Morris and his greatest contribution of the evening was his extraordinary long throw-in.  Any throw that was within 20yds of the bye-line became the equivalent of a corner.  He managed to get balls deep into the 6yd box from just about anywhere.

The other outstanding player for H&R was No. 11 Leroy Griffiths.  He was fast, he was strong and he was dangerous.  It is lucky for Canvey that Hampton didn’t have any real strength in the middle to do anything with his dangerous crosses.  But still Hampton were enjoying a good spell and were forcing Canvey’s defence to keep on their guard.  Just before half-time Dean Green got in a shot on goal that could only be blocked.  He came in quick for the rebound, hit the crossbar but once again came in quick, this time he was able to finish the job and put H&R into a 2-1 lead.

Wayne Vaughan managed to bring the scores back to level when he finished off a great piece of work by Miller.  Millsy chased a lost ball into the H&R penalty area and managed to beat the ‘keeper to the ball.  He chipped him and the ball fell right onto the boot of Wayno who was, by now, lurking on the edge of the 6yd box.

Ashley did his usual superb job as a shot stopper and Canvey managed to keep the scores level for the rest of the game.  They now need one more point to be certain of taking the runners-up spot and with three home games on the trot that single point would appear to be quite achievable.

Match Report by Merv to Follow

Weather Conditions:  Dry, sunny evening on a very heavy and very wet pitch.

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