One Goal, Three Points, No Satisfaction!

"Maidenhead is one of 'those' teams". We all know what that means. A team stuck in the middle of the table not going anywhere. One of those teams that from the kick-off dig themselves in with a 10 man defence, and like to hit their opponents on the break. That's exactly what Canvey had to face today. On an uneven pitch that looked like it hadn't been rolled for a month. Maidenhead threw everyone behind the ball every time Canvey spurned an attack, constantly closing down the Canvey player in possession 3 on 1. Lee Boylan in the starting line-up since Yeovil was taken out of the game, and John Kennedy, Neil Gregory & Steve Parmenter were all denied space.

After last Wednesday's totally boring performance at Harlow, Canvey kicked off today's game with more offensive. Lee Boylan looking as dangerous as ever was having fun up front but the Maidenhead defenders were all over him. A little push here, a lean there were all used to prevent Boylan breaking through the Magpies back line. Canvey gained the upper hand with Maidenhead rarely getting a ball further than the half-way line. (Apart from their 'keeper who almost carried the ball there every time he took a goal-kick!) Steve Parmenter had Canvey's first shot of the game from the edge of the penalty area. A ball picked up by the returning Peter Smith was fed up field to Kennedy, JK dragged the ball back and squared it across the box to Parms who let rip a rifling shot that was about a foot too high. This didn't deter Parms as he tried it twice again but although they were still off target he looked like the only Canvey player who didn't want to try and walk the ball into the goal.

Most of Canvey's attacks looked dangerous coming down the right from JK or Parms and then they failed to make an impression in the Maidenhead penalty area where the we're easily cleared from danger. Chenners & Duffy were having quite a quiet day on the left. They were given acres of space to roam around in but they were ignored by both the Canvey & Maidenhead players alike. When they were called upon Chenners was on hand to clear from Canvey's penalty area and Duffers sprinted down the touchline as Canvey began to mount more pressure down each flank feeling that one lucky cross would make the correct contact and end up in the back of the net.

On 35 minutes Canvey did 'score' from a Steve Tilson free-kick but it was absurdly disallowed. Tilly tee-ed up his angle on the right touchline about 10 yards into the Maidenhead half. His in-swinger was heading goal wards where Maidenhead 'keeper Barnard and central defender Jarvis both went up to clear the ball away, Jarvis missed the headed clearance and Barnard clipped the ball with his fist getting more contact with Jarvis's head than the ball. Jarvis went down clutching his head with Barnard close behind him as the ball simply landed in the far right corner of the net. The Canvey players & supporters all cheered together as the ball lay in the goal. But the Assistant Referee had spotted an infringement during the wonderfully taken goal. He had flagged, but for what only he knew. It was not for offside and there was no challenge on the Magpies goalkeeper or defender by a Canvey player. So the only guess would've been for Jarvis' head 'injury'. But surely the goal should have stood as it was only an accident caused by a team mate?!

For the rest of the first half Maidenhead gained momentum and they were catching Canvey against the run of play, many of their attacks came down the left but very few got past Peter Smith or Wardy. With the half-time whistle looming a Maidenhead attack was superbly countered. It stared when Buzz at the back laid a ball through to Kennedy, JK preceded to run his heart out to the bye-line where he quickly dragged the ball back once more, an launched a cross into the six yard box. Neil Gregory avoided a challenge by Barnard to flick the ball on to the incoming Lee '35 goals and counting' Boylan who lunged at the ball in mid-air, dived and headed it goal wards for his 36th of the season.

Half-time Maidenhead Utd  0 Canvey Island  1

For the second half the Referee was replace by the referee's Assistant (yes, it had to be the one who disallowed our goal didn't it!). Canvey started very positive and mounted challenge after challenge on the Magpies goal, gaining several corners in the process. Lee 'now 36' Boylan did a very rare thing during this half and that was miss the target from a golden opportunity but he wasn't the only one, Neil Gregory was guilty of missing a good chance as was the rather disappointing Steve Tilson. Canvey had the best chances in the second half but lacked the impulse to score. It looked today as if Canvey were missing there midfield. The back three were struggling to clear Maidenhead attacks. JK & Duffers were doing their best to run down the wings and Gregory & Boylan were ready to shoot home if the chances came. But there was no middle Steve Tilson was on a different planet and Stimmo lacked his skill and experience. Only Steve Parmenter looked as if he was alive in the middle and had to make up for what others failed to do. He ran up & down the centre of the field all day even moving out wide to get some desperate crosses in the danger area.

Maidenhead's number 4 Paul Kelly was the only caution of today's game he opened his mouth once to much to the ref and got booked for it. "Can't book him for telling the truth" the Yellow Army called. To add some pace on the left, the tiring Duffy was replaced by the electrifying Spencer Knight, who immediately looked as if he wanted to turn the game around, which unfortunately he couldn't without co-operation from the other 10 players on the field. 15 minutes later MOM Steve Parmenter was subbed to take a well earned rest and Micky Bennett came on to toughen up the midfield (Why Parms was taken off and not Tilly only the management can answer).

The Magpies were having their best period of the game mounting some serious attacks on the Canvey goal, but it was only due to the reflexes of today's centre-half Steve Ward and poor finishing by Maidenhead that Canvey kept a clean sheet. One last gasp effort by Canvey set Lee Boylan off to hopefully claim his 2nd of the game and 37th of the season. Boylan chased the ball to the bye-line and managed to get a cross in before be smashed into the hording surrounding the perimeter of the pitch just to the left of the Yellow Army. He went down with a sickening thud and it was obviously serious as he was immediately replaced with Paul Cobb, while Harry the Physio made his way to the injured Boylan lying crumpled on the deck play had to continue. Paul Cobb came on and looked hungry for a goal but the chance didn't quite come up and Canvey, despite Maidenhead's best efforts managed to hold out for the win and claiming all three points. Boylan was now up and slowly but surely he managed to limp his way around the pitch to the changing room, obviously in quite some pain.

Once again this was far from a good performance from Canvey and the Yellow Army were getting on their backs which, after looking at the away dugout the management team finally started to realise that the fans were getting quite sick & tired of their teams recent performances. Still it was one more goal than Maidenhead got, and all three points. Which were surely needed as Gravesend also won their difficult game at Sutton United by the same score line. Canvey fans are more likely to be dreading the 26th of March now rather than getting excited as they realise that on today's performance Gravesend could very easily take the points and (although not yet mathematically) the title at Stonebridge Road that night.

Full-Time Maidenhead  0 Canvey Island  1

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