Canvey Hold On To Top Spot
With Four More Goals

Canvey extended their unbeaten run to 17 games tonight with an impressive and (looking at the scoreline) emphatic win over Sutton United.  Canvey's last defeat was on the 1st September; what better build-up could you have for the BIG game against Wigan next Saturday?

But it almost didn't happen.  In spite of having 80% of the play for the first twenty minutes, Canvey found themselves one down on the half-hour, courtesy of an own goal by new guy on the block, Julian Dicks.

The week's other new signing, Spencer Knight, was given his first outing tonight by manager Jeff King and he looked very comfortable, both on and off the ball.  Playing to the left of Canvey's midfield, he made some superb runs, some great crosses and had a couple of good attempts on goal thwarted by the busy Sutton defence.

With one or two injury worries and some players being 'rested' for Saturday, the team had an unfamiliar look to it, a combination of players who are all good individually, but it was taking a while for them to settle down into a cohesive unit.  The battle of the mid-field was being won - just, balls were coming forward - eventually, but nobody was able to take advantage of the chances created.  Something was missing, but it was hard to put a finger on exactly what.

Sutton were putting up a spirited performance, but finding it difficult to get into the Canvey danger area.  Whenever they did, they found that Dicks, Smith and Chenery were hard to beat.  On the couple of occasions when the back three were breached, Ashley Harrison was in superb form and his bravery certainly stopped an early lead for the home side.  So it came as something of a shock when Sutton forced a corner after 29 minutes and even more of a shock when the ball came off Julian Dicks' head, past Ashley and into the back of the net.  Sutton were suddenly a goal up and, as a result, they lifted their game several notches.

With the bit between their teeth, several assaults were made on Harrison's goal and he had to be agile to keep the deficit down to one.  Meanwhile, at the other end, nothing would go Canvey's way.  Wayne Vaughan came closest when he was put through for a one on one with Martini, but his shot was straight at the 'keeper and was easily cleared.

So the first half finished with Canvey trailing behind Sutton with several home fans saying words to the effect that,  'this Canvey lot are not what they are cracked up to be.'  But there was plenty of optimism amongst the traveling Yellow Army - they were sure that the goals would come.  How right they would prove to be!

The second half started and it was almost a re-run of the first.  For long spells Canvey were in control with Sutton making occasional raids upfield, but rarely able to do any real damage.  Rob Haworth came closest when, just on the hour, he forced Ash to make a fingertip save, just enough to push the ball over for a corner and saving a certain goal. 

Lee Boylan came on for Steve Parmenter after 65 minutes and he injected some extra flair into the line-up, culminating in his terrific goal just minutes later.  It was a goal in the classic Canvey style.  The ball was pushed around so well; it was almost sexy.  With a series of one/two movements, Canvey got into the danger area where Boylan hit home sweetly from close range.

After 73 minutes Sutton's Dave Timothy made his second rash challenge of the night and, having already been booked, was duly sent off.  He had been a live wire all night and Sutton missed his energy and creativity.  Canvey were certainly able to exploit the extra man situation and within just a few minutes, Wayne Vaughan was able to finish off  almost a repeat performance of the first goal, hitting the ball well as he raced in from the left.  For anyone who missed the action, he did an action replay just seconds later, but this time Martini was able to get down and smother the ball.

Vaughan was certainly fired by this success and on 79 minutes he was in the action again when he sent over a long, high lob from out near the left touchline.  Nobody, even Wayne himself, could have thought the ball would go in, but go in it did.  Right over the heads of the 'keeper and his assembled defence who could only watch, following the flight of the ball as it went over them and into the top right corner of the net.

By now Canvey had got into their stride.  The something that was missing had been found and for long spells, were giving a demonstration of how the game should be played.  They were rock solid at the back (superb precision passing by Dicks), they were ruling the midfield and the forwards were running in and out of the opponents penalty area at will.  There was a degree of panic at the back for Sutton and when Martini came way out of the penalty area to try and clear the ball from John Kennedy's feet, he was sidestepped and left totally stranded.  The ball was crossed into the middle and eventually it landed at the feet of Spencer Knight who slotted home with relative ease.

It seems that not everybody likes match reports that talk about a game being one-sided, but the only way to describe the final minutes of the game is, 'Total Domination by the King's Men!'  To describe it any other way would simply be untruthful.

Now it's a rest from Ryman for a few days as thoughts turn to FA Cup and a certain game to be played at the JJB Stadium at the end of the week.  I can't wait.

Match Report by Merv

(Apologies.  In an earlier version of this match report I said that Eddie Akuamoah had been sent off instead of Dave Timothy.  This was an error on my part for which I apologise, without reservation, for any embarrassment this might have caused to the player, manager or fans of Sutton - Merv)

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