WIGAN PIER HERE WE COME!

Canvey are through to the first round proper of the FA Cup and their reward is a long (but lucrative) trip to Wigan Athletic.  And once again, they did it in style.

Various messages on the discussion board have tried to stir up the argument about the standard of football in the Ryman League and the Dr Martens.  Well, on this showing, there is no argument.  Along with Halesowen, Telford, Kings Lynn and Cambridge, today's opponents, Stafford Rangers, were swept aside with very little difficulty.  

With a hat-trick from Steve Tilson and a goal apiece from Miller and Vaughan, Canvey were always in control and rarely did they look like losing the game.  Having said that, Ashley Harrison was called upon to keep out one or two dangerous looking raids on his goal, but everyone at the back kept their cool and so Canvey's progress in the cup shows 16 goals for and only three against.

The scoring opened from the penalty spot after Chris Duffy was brought down by Leigh Everitt after only 16 minutes and the referee pointed immediately to the penalty spot,  Steve Tilson strode up to the ball and sent Paul Hayward, the stand-in keeper, the wrong way.  But this wasn't Canvey's first attempt at goal; Darren Simkin had already put in a timely tackle on Adam Miller earlier in the game to thwart his first attempt on goal and Scott Dumas cleared off his own line to deny his second.

Hayward was playing well in the Stafford goal, being brought into the side rather late, following the departure of regular first team choice Richard Williams earlier in the week.  Hayward's normal role is that of goalkeeping coach, but today he did well and could not be blamed for any of Canvey's five goals.

Neil Gregory had another of those games where he did everything perfectly, except score.  He did put the ball into the net in the first half but the assistant referee had his flag aloft to signal off-side.

Adam Miller and Wayne Vaughan got goals number two and three and although there were lots of similarities between them, there was as obvious difference in style.  Millsy was put through after 34 minutes from a long ball out from defence.  He was in loads of space and decided to run towards goal, almost unchecked by a slow defence.  Facing a one-on-one with Hayward, he hit the ball hard and low under the advancing 'keeper and it was now 2 - 0.  

A minute later, Wayno picked up a similar long ball out of defence and started on a similar run towards goal.  This time, when Hayward came off his line to narrow the angle, Wayne decided to go around him and slot the ball into the empty net.  The result was exactly the same and now Canvey were 3 - 0 up.

With the first half going into the dying minutes, a strange mix-up in midfield saw Mark Stimson appear to take a swipe at Scott Dundas and receiving a red card from Mr Deadman, the referee for his pains.  But just as Stimo was going down the tunnel, the same card was shown to Scott Dundas and he followed hard on Stimo's heels.  But something must have happened in the tunnel as stewards and subs from the Rangers' bench disappeared towards the changing room, apparently to break up an altercation between the two players, which rather spoilt the party atmosphere that Canvey were enjoying on the pitch.

The second half got under way and it was clear that Stafford wanted to get back into the game.  They demonstrated a new enthusiasm in midfield and, as a reward, they snatched a goal back within ten minutes.  It was Kiely's second attempt on Harrison's goal, the first one going just too wide.  But this second attempt went straight in and for a while at least, Stafford seemed to enjoy a period of settled, intelligent play that saw several near attempts.  They found more freedom in midfield and they managed to lift their play - but perhaps not quite enough.

As the second half got under way, Canvey once again stamped their superiority onto the game and took control once again.  Spurred on by the great cup atmosphere, Canvey kept coming forward and there were so many near misses that fans realised that the scoreline was going to improve - eventually.

It was Steve Tilson's second goal that took the game beyond the visitors reach.  The goal was made by Wayne Vaughan who did well to reach a long ball that was going to the bye-line.  The cross from the right was measured perfectly and it found Tilly in the middle, unmarked and just waiting to hammer home on the volley.  A great goal and one that seemed to demoralise the opposition.

Just to prove this was no  fluke, Tilly got goal number five just a few minutes later.  This time the superb cross came from Chris Duffy on the left and Tilly took one touch to set it up onto his left foot and then he blasted home to make it 5 - 1.

Although the game was now beyond Ranger's reach, they still continued to mount several assaults on Canvey's goal and it was down to Ashley Harrison's superb form that the visitors tally stayed at just one.  Kiely was causing the most trouble, but he rarely found anyone to back him up.

With Canvey scoring five goals for the second week running, it is easy to see why all the attention should focus on the attack, but that is so unfair to the superb defence.  Canvey were rock solid at the back and none more so than Peter Smith.  His tackles were timely, his distribution of the ball sublime and he always looked comfortable both on the ball and off it.

In between Smithy at the back and the scorers at the front, there was the usual terrific display from the likes of JK, Duffers and the man of the moment, Adam Miller.  If Canvey can maintain this sort of form, there must be some very worried faces sitting in the boardroom of Wigan at the moment.

Match Report by Merv. Photos by Ian.

Weather Conditions:  Dry, bright and sunny.

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