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Canvey Turn On
The Magic... Just to prove that last Saturday's 38 second goal was no fluke, Lee Boylan did the business again tonight, but he shaved 11 seconds off his own record. From kick-off to hitting the back of the net took an amazing 27 seconds - and Billericay's fate was sealed. This was not the Billericay that Canvey fans have got to know over they years, in fact they were only a shadow of their former selves. Off the pitch shenanigans has seen the club decimated over recent weeks and the effect can be clearly seen on the pitch. There was no leadership, no direction and very little idea of how to thwart a Canvey side that is riding high at the moment. All evening it was the Islanders who were showing the way forward and, just like Saturday's game against St Albans, they had it pretty much their own way. It was another true team performance with impressive performances from every individual. The league's top scorer, Lee Boylan, extended his tally to 39 but could have got another hat trick had the ball just bounced a bit more luckily for him. He was ably supported at the front by Ollie Berquez who also got onto the scoresheet. With Ollie playing up front in place of Neil Gregory, Canvey have been playing more balls on the floor in the last two games and that seems to have made all the difference. The football has been both entertaining and, as far as visiting defences are concerned, devastating. If only this sort of form had been consistent through the season it would be Aldershot watching Canvey's results and not the other way round. Berquez's goal on the half hour all started with a cross from Chris Duffy out on the left. The ball found Boylan on the far post and he put in a terrific header that went across the face of the goal where it was met by Berquez who made no mistake from close range. The ball took a deflection from the hand of Nick McDonald, but it was always going in. It was pretty much one-way traffic as Canvey found all sorts of routes through to the visitors 18yd box. By reply, Billericay had little to offer except long balls forward, run and hope. Even goalkeeper Jerome John kept knocking goal kicks far to much forward so the ball simply landed deep in the Canvey half where, with one touch, it was simply knocked back to Danny Potter who started another Canvey build from the back. It was enjoyable to watch and a Canvey defeat was never on the cards. Half time Canvey 2 Billericay 0 Canvey eased off the pressure just a little in the second half, but they still dominated the midfield, kept things very tight at the back and the forwards kept the visiting defence at full strength. Poor Nick Savidge and Gary Henty resorted time after time to enormous 'hoofs' (often out of the ground) in desperate attempts to clear Canvey attacks. Chris Duffy, involved in the second goal, almost scored himself in the 68th minute. He picked up a ball on the penalty spot and everybody thought he was going to hit it first time and try for goal. Duffers did his usual trick of taking an extra touch on the ball and, in doing so, wasted the chance. But instead of shooting he chipped over a perfect cross to John Kennedy who was on the far post. Leaning back on the ball, JK unleashed a powerful shot - the sort that either hits the back of the net or the back of the car park. On this occasion he hit the back of the net. A great goal and a deserved 3 - 0 scoreline. The rest of the game was played out in much the same style. Repeated Canvey assaults on Billericay's goal and very little reply from the visitors. It was entertaining and exciting football. Only real question that remains is why were there so few people at the Lane to watch it. Understandably Riccay brought very few fans (they don't get that many at New Lodge) but where were the Canvey fans? Do they want goals? They got them - 9 in the last two home games. Do they want success? Second in the league and knocking on the door of promotion seems successful enough to me. Where were you tonight Canvey fans? The team is doing the business on the pitch. Now it's up to you to do the business on the terrace. Photos: Click on the right and left arrows above to scroll through the images. Click on any thumbnail to view it in a larger format. There are 8 images to view. If the arrow is dark there are more images to the right or left. Pictures are © Ian C. Walmsley / First Images 2003.
This one is mine!
Match Report by Merv.
Pictures by Ian Teams
Weather Conditions: Dry but very cold. What did you think of
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