Too  Strong,  Too  Sharp  And  Too  Fast.
Shots  Stop  Canvey  From  Playing

There come a point in any season when most clubs realise they are not going to win the title.  The later in the season that realisation comes, the more nail-biting things become.  Tonight, with a one-nil loss at home to Aldershot, Canvey must surely realise that they are not going to win the title - and they can have few real complaints.  Aldershot were a lot stronger at the back and all their clearances were quick and decisive.  They closed Canvey down so effectively that they simply couldn't play their normal passing game of football, nor could they even begin to match the visitors 'long ball, one touch and turn' style of play.

Tonight's kick-off had to be delayed by 15 minutes on the advice of the police who were still trying to direct hundreds of fans making their way to Park Lane.  But by half past seven the atmosphere in the ground was electric.  All credit to the travelling Red Army, their support is in a league of its own and their singing encouraged the home fans to try and match them.  There was a real buzz around the terraces, so different from the Billericay game a week ago.

In the first half Canvey played the more attractive style of football, but it was obvious that with defenders the size of Anthony Charles and Dominic Sterung, the ball needed to stay on the deck.  The Shot's defence was in so quickly that there was very little time for either Lee Boylan or Ollie Berquez to turn on their magic.  Neil Gregory was enjoying some success in the air, but his neat touches rarely found any unmarked feet around him.  Most noticeable was the shear physical nature of the visiting defence.  Boylan was kicked, pulled and generally manhandled throughout the game, but got very little support from any of the match officials.

Aldershot made a couple of early assaults on Danny Potter's goal, forcing him to punch clear on several occasions.  It was one of these punches that sent the ball directly to Chris Duffy just on the half-way line.  He then started a dangerous looking run that ended with a shot that was only just wide.  Duffers seemed to have found his shooting boots tonight and a minute later he got in another good shot that Bull almost spilt.  The 'keeper recovered quickly and managed to keep a firm grip on the ball.

The pace was frantic and there was a good deal of excitement at both ends, Canvey's coming from a genuine attempt to build from midfield, Aldershot's from a much more direct approach that usually bypassed the midfield entirely.  But Shots were winning more corners than Canvey and without the speed of Steve Ward at the back (he failed a fitness test just before the game started) they were probably looking the more dangerous side.  Danny Potter certainly felt the pressure with some of his clearances being less than his best.

Canvey's closest shot of the first half came on 22 minutes when Chris Duffy picked up a loose ball out on the left and, rather unusually, connected first time to send in a great cross that found the head of Lee Boylan.  It was a powerful header, but just wide of the mark.

On 26 minutes Micky Bennett was unable to deal with an Aldershot break and, in chasing Aaron McLean into the penalty area, he lunged at him from behind and brought him down.  The referee had no option but to point to the spot, from where Roscoe D'Sane converted with ease.  Aldershot had taken the lead - slightly against the run of play - and their fans went wild.  Such a pity that a mindless few brought proceedings to a temporary halt as they tried to invade the pitch.  Stewards and police rushed to the terrace and a beer can was thrown onto the pitch.  The Aldershot players appealed to the fans to calm down but it took several minutes before play could resume.

Canvey stepped their game up by a notch and Ollie Berquez came close on 33' when he forced Bull into making a dramatic save, but near misses and good saves would not be enough.  The visitors had got what they came for and they were determined to hold onto it.

Half time  Canvey 0  Aldershot 1

Terry Brown must have realised that if Canvey could get into their normal stride they would be good enough to turn things around and so Aldershot came out for the second half with one thing on their agenda.  Close Canvey down quickly and don't allow them to do what they are good at - play football.  This was a most successful tactic because, for the next 45 minutes, Canvey struggled to get back into the game.  Every time they came forward there seemed to be at least two extra markers for each Canvey forward.

The Canvey defence held up well and were good enough to cope with the runs being made to chase the long balls, but it was up front that Caney seemed to be running out of ideas.  Or at least, any new ideas.  They were not going to be given any space for touch and move football but they continued to battle as best they could.

As the second half went on, Aldershot slowed the pace right down, taking forever to take a throw in or goal kick.  Canvey were getting frustrated and gradually began to lose the plot.  Canvey attacks were getting fewer and fewer whereas Aldershot began to force a whole series of corners and free-kicks in dangerous positions.

The biggest difference between the two sides was the decisive nature of Aldershot's play.  Their style isn't the most attractive in the world, but what they do, they do well.  Every clearance from defence was sharp and accurate; it almost always found a red shirt.  Ball control was almost always accurate first time; no second touches were required.

Jeff King made a couple of tactical substitutions and bringing on Bertie Brayley for Kevin Dobinson in the 81st minute almost resulted in a goal.  Bertie sent in a tremendous shot in the dying minutes, one that Bull could not hold onto.  But although Bertie was well set up to pounce on the rebound, he was bundled off the ball by two defenders and the referee shouted to play on.

You could argue that  Canvey were not getting the rub of the green tonight or that Shots were a very physical side, but it has to be said that, at the end of 90 minutes, the visitors proved to be the better team on the night.  This win now almost certainly gives them the championship and their fans  celebrated as much as soon as the final whistle went.  Meanwhile, the disappointed Canvey fans shuffled out of the ground thinking about the runners up spot - for the third successive season.