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THAT'S MORE LIKE IT! According to the local newspaper, Hampton boss Ian McDonald was treating this afternoon's game against Canvey as a cup final. Following on from a very poor start to the season, McDonald was looking for a special performance today; his team desperately looking for a win. Sadly for the Beavers, Canvey were simply too good for them and they never looked like causing any serious problems for The Gulls. But things might have gone wrong for Canvey within the opening minutes. Hampton came off the starting blocks at a tremendous pace and looked as if they wanted some action. They nearly got some. A relatively safe ball was completely missed by Steve Ward and No. 9 Lee Riddell was in like a flash to give Danny Potter an early scare. Although Riddell managed to beat the keeper, in doing so he sent the ball wide of the far post. By reply only minutes later, Lee Boylan totally outran the home defence when a long ball was sent forward. He collected, controlled and put in a beautiful shot from a narrow angle that was only a few centimetres wide. This was the signal to Canvey to get stuck in and take a grip on the game. John Kennedy and Scott Forbes were roaming all over the pitch and causing trouble, Spencer Knight was finding lots of space and Neil Gregory was getting underneath everything. Things were looking good. The game was 14 minutes old when Boylan, once again, was involved in goalmouth action. Over on the right Chris Duffy sent a ball through to the overlapping Lee Protheroe who, in turn, crossed and found Boylan just on the edge of the 6yd box. Unfortunately he couldn't connect properly on the first touch and by the time he teed up for his shot, Andrew Iga was off his line and managed to pull off a good save. This was the first of many fine saves by the talented keeper that he would be called upon to perform throughout the afternoon. But only two minutes later the ball did fall more favourably for the hard-working Boylan. Once again the ball came over from the right but this time it was Neil Gregory providing the service. He found Boylan in the danger area and this time he made no mistake with a shot that Iga couldn't get near. Canvey had taken a deserved lead and with this open, flowing style of play, it looked as if more goals might follow. Scott Forbes came close on 24 minutes, almost converting yet another cross from the right, this time the provider being Lee Protheroe. Things were coming together for Canvey but it wasn't down to good luck or fortune, it was the reward for their work rate, their desire to win the ball and their ability to push it forward, constantly splitting open the home defence. For Hampton, Ashley Sestanovich was the best player and whenever he got hold of the ball he looked like he could cause some damage. Fortunately for Canvey he was very much on his own and with nobody to support him, his efforts rarely made any real dents in Canvey's solid defence. On the half-hour the industrious John Kennedy was behind another threat on Iga's goal but was upended by Sam Okafor in the penalty area. Paul Toyer, the referee, had no hesitation in pointing to the penalty spot and on 31 minutes Lee Boylan netted his second goal of the game and his fourth of the season. With such a strong squad at Park Lane this season it looked as if everyone out there was playing for his place today and that made such a difference. There was a determination and enthusiasm that was lacking for so much of the Aldershot game. The first half eventually finished at two-nil to Canvey but on this sort of form, it ought to have been more. Half Time Hampton & Richmond 0 Canvey Island 2 Fans were hoping that Canvey would continue the second half at the same tempo as they had played the first. Unfortunately they couldn't manage this but, nonetheless, it was an exciting 45 minutes and although there were no more goals, there was still plenty of action. Hampton did come back into the game for one second half spell but, apart from a good long shot from Lee Riddell, there was nothing too much to worry Potter. Greggers continued to climb for everything and his control and aerial distribution of the ball was exceptional. The home defence learnt from their first half failures and tightened up considerably, giving Canvey far less room in which to play. Matt Jones came on for Chris Duffy but this had the effect of Spencer Knight dropping back, from where he seemed less effective. As the half went on, Canvey were conceding far too many silly free-kicks but one sensed that H&R hadn't done their homework and they failed to exploit Canvey's far post, choosing instead to play balls wide where they were effectively dealt with by one of the back four. After 67 minutes and after giving 110% effort, Neil Gregory went off and a fresh and lively Bertie Brayley came on in his place. He combined well with Lee Boylan up front and although they both had near misses, Canvey seemed content to sit back and defend their lead rather than extend it. Attacks on the home goal still happened, but not with the regularity and not with the same sense of danger that we had witnessed in the first half. Overall, a good performance although the first 45 minutes was better value for money that the second. Apart from the opening minutes, Hampton rarely looked like causing any real problems for a defence that, now it is playing with four across the back, is looking very tight indeed. The three points were well won and have lifted the Gulls to 9th in the league, although the defeat had dumped H&R on the bottom. Match Report by Merv Teams
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