Some Potter Magic Saves Canvey's Day

Following on from an extremely poor Bank Holiday trip to Basingstoke, today's fixture at Park Lane featured Sutton United in emerald green and white quartered shirts.

The game kicked off with Canvey Island kicking towards the Park Lane end of the ground. Chris Duffy had an early chance about ninety seconds it's poor clearance landed at the feet of Steve Forbes, who's cross granted Duffy his second chance but it was just that bit too high.

Everyone knows that this season Canvey have looked extremely suspect on crosses and Sutton gained free headers and poor clearances which lead to goal-line scrambles. With presence on no natural centre-half since the days of Steve Porter, could this hole at the back be the reason for Canvey's poor start?

Sutton's number five Danny Hodges was having a very good game in their back-line. He was very reliable and always in the right place at the right time. On ten minutes he headed clear a cross from John Kennedy which almost set-up Neil Gregory if he hadn't intervened.

After only eleven minutes ex-Canvey man Danny Bolt evaded the Canvey Island offside trap and with plenty of time on his hands Bolt ran full pace towards Danny Potter's goal pulling out wide to the left and from fifteen yards fired past Danny Potter into the far corner of the goal. One-nil Sutton for the fifth time this season!

Chris Duffy was on fire during this first half and on sixteen minutes he had another superb shot that was directed straight at the 'keeper. Two minutes later though, Chris Duffy scored a superb goal albeit it was a total fluke. Duffy out on the right touch-line put in a superb cross that was destined straight to the head of Neil Gregory, the only problem was the net got in the way and Duffy himself had scored.

Danny Potter was strong in the Canvey goal today and the battle between him and Ashley Harrison for the number one jersey will be very tight indeed. The only problem being as with all new arrivals in a team there is yet to be a clear understanding between Potter and his three defenders.

The closing minutes of the first half was all Canvey and Scott Forbes, Lee Boylan, Jeff Minton or either of the Gregory brothers could easily have doubled Canvey's lead. Jeff Minton having the easiest chance when he quick-footed the Sutton defence and only needed to get a touch on the ball heading along the floor to the 'keeper to send it through his legs but the ball just escaped Minton and the 'keeper collected comfortably.

Half-time - Canvey Island 1 Sutton United 1

The second half started much like the first with John Kennedy almost converting a Ben Chenery cross just seconds after the re-start, but yet again it was straight at the Goalkeeper. The Canvey frontline came out with a new desire and determination but the Gulls still looked suspect at the back.

It was Chris Duffy once again that almost got Canvey's second goal on fifty-six minutes, forcing a a great save and corner from the Goalkeeper. Duffy's only problem during today's game was that he was playing down the right and being so left footed he had to keep stopping and cutting inside to get the ball on his left side before he could cross the ball.

Micky Bennett conceded a penalty on sixty-one minutes after bringing down a Sutton player in the Canvey penalty area and received a yellow card for his effort. However Mark Watson hit a poor ball and Danny Potter pulled off a superb one-handed, diving to his right to deny Sutton a second goal.

Having their spirits lifted thanks to this superb piece of Potter magic, Canvey began attack after attack. The Wingers and Forwards were pulling off some superb stuff, especially, Scott Forbes and young Bertie Brayley who had replaced Lee Boylan. The only thing really lacking was a 'Midfield General' who could and would direct all the operations in the middle of the field.

On seventy-four minutes John Kennedy had a very rare, but deadly header turned over the bar by Tom Dunn. One extreme disappointment to today's game was that there was nowhere near enough understanding between the Canvey players. It was like eleven good individual players that couldn't quite form one superb team. There was lots of new skill but the reading of each others play and positioning is still majorly underdeveloped. However when the Canvey Island FC team finally clicks into place the poor team they're playing is in for one total thrashing!

Despite missing the penalty Mark Watson looked very good up front for the U's today. He was creating problems for the Canvey defence who found his pace and positioning difficult to deal with.

With five minutes to go Sutton were practically begging Canvey to score! Their defence fell to pieces and even with the ten near misses, handballs, elbows and pushes that went unseen by Mr. Elstone, Canvey for the life of them could not find the back of the net so the game finished evens.

The Yellows, who will play in blue on Tuesday, travel to St. Albans City. The Saints are the only team to have won all five of their league games and are sitting comfortably on top of the Ryman Premier Division. For the past few seasons Canvey have managed to put at least four goals past City, but this time around it can easily be reversed

Full-time Canvey Island 1 Sutton United 1

Match Report by Matt.

Weather Conditions:  Dry, bright & sunny.

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