Well At Least We Didn't Lose!
That's All I Can Say

Today Canvey sought revenge for last season's finale fixture, and for forty-four minutes it looked like justice would be done. But today certainly proved to be a game of two halves!

Canvey lined up as they did last Tuesday at Ford with the only changes being Bertie Brayley relegated to substitute in favour of the flu recovering Scott Forbes and Lee Protheroe returning from suspension to the bench.

Braintree, who have been hit this year with financial problems and lie two places above the foot of the table kicked off shooting towards the Park Lane end of the ground. But it was Canvey who elevated their game first. Within minutes of the whistle being blown, Canvey were launching the balls down the wings for either Scott Forbes on the left, or Chris Duffy on the right to run onto. However Braintree did have their moments during this patch and after only five minutes Bradley Quinton was through on goal. He let rip a powerful low shot that was well held by Danny Potter. During the first half there were definite signs of a resurrection of the football, whose quality could only be described as 'sexy'. One particular player playing very well in the opening quarter of an hour was one Micky Bennett, once again playing in the middle of the pitch.

Former Dagenham boy, Ollie Berquez had another good chance to put Braintree one-up but his shot was cleared just feet in front of the goal-line and the following break away led to Canvey's best chance of the half so far. It was Scott Forbes bombing down the left who done all the hard work, his cross was a beauty and if it wasn't for a slight aerial deflection it would have fallen perfectly to Neil Gregory who looked certain to rifle home his now trademark volley.

Eight minutes into the game and a textbook header across goal from Neil Gregory at the far post evaded both Scott Forbes and Lee Boylan so another great chance went begging. Three minutes later Lee Boylan was through one-on-one with Paul Catley and he looked destined to score. However ex-Canvey man Gary Waters had other ideas and his excellently timed tackle stole the ball from Boylan's feet.

Only seventeen minutes into the game and Ross Johnson got his first goal for the Gulls. A corner from the right, fell deep into the Braintree penalty area, and it could only be half-punched away by Catley. The ball fell to Boylan who, with three defenders closing him down and his back to goal laid the ball off left to the feet of the incoming Johnson. 'Roscoe' let rip a thunderous strike through a sea of white shirts and with the help of a guaranteed deflection found it's way into the bottom right corner of the goal. The deadlock had finally been broken and Canvey were certainly expected to get more.

Braintree's only method of attack during this half was always down the right-hand side where they knew that ex-Iron defender Craig Davidson lacked the pace to clear a ball and if necessary beat an attacker to the ball. Unfortunately for Crow it worked almost every time and it continued throughout the rest of the game.

Twenty-two minutes gone and Lee Boylan once again had the chance to put his name on the score sheet. His fifteen yard shot was destined for goal but an acrobatic tip over from Catley denied the Golden-Boot Winner.

Just on the half-hour and Craig Davidson steamed through the centre of midfield and with the Braintree defenders continuously backing away he made it all the way inside the penalty area where his screaming shot was inches over the crossbar.

On the stroke of half-time Braintree got their equaliser through number two Bradley Quinton. Quinton who was given too much space down the left ran straight past the Canvey defence and with Potter trying to narrow the angle. Quinton's shot thundered against the underside of the crossbar and just managed to go over the line before bouncing back out again. Braintree fans themselves weren't exactly sure if it had gone in but the referee saw fit to award the goal and the two teams went in at the interval on equal terms.

Half-time - Canvey Island 1, Braintree Town 1.

The second half was totally different from the first and with Braintree grabbing that late goal. Their spirits rose as Canvey's morale sank. Just two minutes into the second half and Braintree, who had come into today's game not to lose, but not necessarily go home with a win either, began their campaign for Oscar nominations. Nicky Haydon was up first and clearly planning something chose to deliberately back himself into John Kennedy and fall to the floor clutching his head. A pretty good effort at getting the Yellow Army's backs up and run away contender for the Best Stunt award.

However the flare and charisma of the ever improving Canvey team had been lost. They reverted to the big 'hoof' up field, players were backing away from running attackers and only seemed half-hearted at actually wanting the two points that had eluded them at half-time. Ben Chenery was definitely not having his best game at right-back, his big 'hoofs' up-field were landing straight to white shirts who immediately began a counter attack.

Jeff King decided to change things round at the back and brought on Lee Protheroe at right back, for Ross Johnson pushing Ben Chenery into the centre to attempt to improve the long ball (that never works) efforts. It seemed that all tactics and football knowledge had been sucked out of Canvey as what was once a lethal tactic of using the wings became rather weak. Chris Duffy looked to have given up extremely early in the game, even if he had received a poor effort at a round-house kick in the shin. Scott Forbes on the left was equally disappointing. Forbes definitely has the skill with his feet but when the team aren't playing the ball on the deck there isn't much he can do, so he was duly subbed two minutes later with Matt Jones serving as his replacement.

Once again Braintree were using the lack of Crow's pace down the right to their advantage and Steve Ward nearly handed them a winner when he miss timed a header and put Braintree forward Neil Cousins through one-on-one with Potter. Potter was quick out his goal and closed the gap well blocking the shot from a near certain goal. A deserved Man of the Match award for Potter pulling off two superbly vital saves when Braintree looked to have had the three points handed to them on a plate.

Sixty-four minutes into the game and Canvey skipper Neil Gregory was replaced by young Bertie Brayley, who added some pace up front now the aerial ability was removed. Braintree's Man of the Match was easily their captain Gavin Cowen. He was the rock of which the Iron defence revolved around. He cleared everything today using his head and his feet. He made suicidal blocks with his body and on the one occasion his arm, which went un-noticed by Mr. Ian Searle the wonderful man in black.

Despite being struck by the award-winning efforts of the Nick Haydon dive, Ian Searle had a very good game. He spoke to players who were losing their cool slightly without the stupidity of brandishing a card, he was always in control every step of the way and he even hurried the Braintree boys up despite their best efforts to waste as much time as they needed to get this draw in the bag.

Lee Protheroe was another worthy contender for Man of the Match he was getting stuck in everywhere in the middle of the park sometimes having to do the job of two or even sometimes three players that weren't pulling their weight in Midfield. 'Proths' was even willing to run at the defenders and he put in some good crosses that neither Brayley nor Boylan could latch onto to strike home.

The only real effort of the second half came from Chris Duffy, collecting the ball from the right cut inside and ran into the penalty area, with the ball at his feet had he struck the ball first time he would have almost certainly scored. But Duffers needing that extra touch that he does was quickly closed down by the seven man defence and his only choice was to pass to Matt Jones coming in from the opposite direction. But Jones had his back to goal and the ball was collected from his feet comfortably by Catley.

Canvey did attempt to get into the game during the last ten minutes. They finally decided to have a go and run at the defenders but the Braintree defence held firm and the ball was left to bounce around from player to player on the edge of the box. Whenever Canvey did manage to get a cross into the box however, Neil Gregory's heading ability was sorely missed and crosses were not connecting with the Canvey players. These last minute spells did little to improve the game as even some of the most ardent Canvey fans had walked out prior to the final whistle.

Full-time - Canvey Island 1, Braintree Town 1.

Match Report by Matt.
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