THREE  POINTS  KEEPS  CANVEY
IN  TOUCH  WITH  THE  LEADERS

With some of the other results going Canvey's way today, the three points collected from the Ducks keeps them firmly in contention with the Ryman Premier leaders.  Whereas in previous seasons Canvey have been in the frame all the way through but have been 'pipped at the post' in April, this year's campaign sees the club just on the fringe of the promotion race, letting Aldershot, Purfleet, St Albans (even Billericay at one stage) do all the pacemaking.  Meanwhile Canvey sit back in the slipstream, waiting to put a run together and then pounce.  With no league defeats since 16th November, perhaps that run has started.

Although today's result may not look too exciting, the football certainly was - for long periods of both halves.  The goal tally might have been significantly higher but why ,oh why, oh why do so many goalkeepers come to Park Lane to have the game of their lives?  Lee Worgan, Welsh Under 19 International, was certainly the visitors Man of the Match, making several important saves throughout the afternoon.  He denied Lee Boylan a hat-trick late on in the game, saving a header from point-blank range and somehow, miraculously, getting behind a John Kennedy exorcet missile during the first 6 minutes.  Other Canvey players came close, but never close enough.

The first half was 80-20 Canvey's game.  They dominated long periods but just couldn't find the net.  To me, Aylesbury looked almost unfit as they lumbered around and only managed to bother Ashley Harrison once in the first 45 minutes, a well placed free-kick being pushed wide for a corner.  Chris Duffy and John Kennedy were enjoying freedom down the flanks and both sent over some great crosses, several of them bothering Worgan to the extent that he was forced to come out and punch clear.

But still there were no goals.  However, the football was both entertaining and enjoyable to watch and most fans around me felt that it would only be a matter of time before Canvey would go into a well deserved lead.

Half time  Canvey 0  Aylesbury 0

The second half did not start the way Canvey would have wanted and Aylesbury grasped the opportunity to start coming forward.  Their main first half tactic was to thump long through balls down the middle for Maskell and Baker to chase.  For the first 15 minutes of the second half they started to play the ball to feet, in an imitation of the Canvey style that was looking so good.  Fortunately for Canvey they couldn't maintain this style of play and gradually they faded and Canvey got back into the game.

At their best, Canvey dominated the proceedings and came so close on many occasions.  Rudi was looking sharp both at the back and whenever he came forward, but the star of the midfield was Micky Bennett.  His passing was accurate, his tackles timely and his determination resolute.  Add this to Minton's close possession play and his ability to keep hold of the ball, no matter what, and you have a midfield that was able to move the game along with relative ease.  Space was being created on both flanks and this was exploited will by both Duffers and JK.  It was looking good.

Canvey's first goal came, unusually, direct from a corner.  The kick was taken by Minton who found the head of Lee Boylan who was able to put away his 19th goal of the season.  This was just the fillip that Canvey needed.  They lifted their game by another notch and started once again to play the way they know best - to feet.  It was so good that Boylan came back after only another three minutes and scored his 20th of the season.  The goal came about following a long clearance from Harrison that almost got as far as the Aylesbury penalty area.  Neil Gregory was blatantly fouled as he went up to meet it but the ball came off the shoulders of one of his assailants - playing Boylan on-side as he lurked on the edge of the box.  With Worgan stranded off his line, the ever-sharp striker chipped him to score his second goal of the afternoon.

Neil Gregory again dominated in the air and some of his lay-offs were superb - on so many occasions this season he has set up situations for others.  But sometimes things are set up beautifully for Greggers himself.  Take the movement that started with Rudi collecting the ball and storming into the penalty area on the right before releasing it, across the box, to Jeff Minton.  Minton gave it a push further on to Greggers who was in the perfect position to score.  He couldn't miss!  He had to score!  It was a cert!  He scuffed it!!!

Aylesbury rarely looked like scoring, until Craig Davidson gave away a penalty in the 73rd minute.  Crow was beaten and he took a chance in pulling down his opponent but Mr Mason, the referee, had no option but to point to the spot and put Davidson's name into his little black book.  Maskell hammered his spot kick easily past Harrison to bring Aylesbury back to within a fighting distance of a result.  Truth is, they did lift their game somewhat but they were never good enough to give Canvey a real scare and the final quarter of an hour was played out as most of the earlier game had been - wave after wave of Canvey attacks but nothing more getting past Worgan.

And so it ended up at 2 - 1 but it was a great result all the same.  Just 10 points behind Aldershot who, as in so many seasons, have shown early promise but then appear to go to one helluva New Year's Eve party and suffer from a hangover for the next few months.  Who knows what will happen over the coming months?  But one thing that won't happen, and was on all the fans' minds this afternoon, is the FA Trophy game on Saturday 1st February.  But more of that on the news page.

Match Report by Merv.

Weather Conditions:  Bright, dry afternoon.

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