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HEYBRIDGE FAIL
TO SHAKE OFF Heybridge must wonder just what they have to do to get a good result against Canvey. They were beaten 7 - 0 at Heybridge and 6 - 1 at Park Lane last season and today The Gulls took their goal tally against The Swifts to 17 goals in three games. Although it was a good performance from Heybridge, it was an absolute stunner from Canvey. They took up where they left off last Tuesday, except today the defence was almost watertight. The big difference today might have been the league debut of Kevin Dobinson at the back, or it might have been the 4-4-2 line up. Four across the back always makes the Canvey defence look strong and it gives a much better shape to the whole side. With the strength of Kennedy, Chenery, Ward and Dobinson behind them, the midfield did what they do best, push the ball forward to the two strikers, both of whom were on fire today; Brayley and Gregory. The visitors goal was under attack from very early on and Kingsley Banks, an excellent keeper in spite of being beaten 13 times by the Canvey attack last season, was kept quite busy. As early as 3 minutes Swifts' Danny Barber failed to clear just outside his own area, allowing Neil Gregory to pick up the loose ball. Greggers centred the ball but just a tad too high for Brayley to connect. The chances were being created today and this was due, in part, to the Canvey midfield getting the ball into the action zone early, rather than trying to walk it in, allowing the opposing defence to get back and organise themselves. Canvey are often guilty of playing the ball too much in the air but when Neil Gregory is on the sort of form we saw this afternoon, timing his jumps to perfection and dominating the air, the tactic is a good one. Greggers was setting the ball up for everyone and if only it had bounced a little more kindly for them, Canvey might have gone a couple of goals up within the first quarter of an hour. Michael Dignam was especially strong in the Swifts defence and his covering and quick tackles thwarted several promising runs by Scott Forbes down the left. But Canvey were swinging the ball from one side to the other and if Forbes was finding his route blocked on the left, the midfielders simply clipped the ball over to Chris Duffy on the right. And when Duffers wasn't around to collect, Lee Protheroe was. It was his run that started the move that led to Canvey's first goal. He brought the ball out of defence and decided to carry it forward. He pushed it forward to Duffers who, in turn, pushed it on to Minton who set Bertie Brayley up with a scoring opportunity. Brayley took this opportunity and although he got a slight deflection from Pollard, the shot was a good one and it left Banks diving at thin air as the back of the net bulged. The second goal of the game will probably get nominated at some time as the Golden Goal of the Season. It was a sensational shot from Greggers, after he was set up by a terrific jinxing run down the left by Forbes. Forbes sent over a cross that eventually dropped perfectly for the sort of volley that either goes over the sea wall or hits the back of the net like a cannonball. Greggers volleyed and Banks made an attempt to save, but secretly, I think the keeper was pleased he didn't get a hand to it. It was a magical goal, reminiscent of Wigan, but today the angle was more difficult. Half time Canvey 2 Heybridge 0 Although the game had been pretty much one way throughout the first half, Heybridge came out for the second session with more purpose and determination. They started to string together more passes and managed to get into the Canvey danger area on several occasions. But they found it difficult to get past the superb Steve Ward who always seemed to be getting in their way. Being in a line of four seems to suit Wardy and today he was outstanding. The consolation goal for Heybridge came on 53 minutes and, not surprisingly, it was a long free-kick aimed at the Canvey far post, that was converted with ease by David Culverhouse. The goal lifted the visitors spirits even further and they continued their strong spell and created several more chances. As a result of this, Canvey seemed to lose their flow and the the game was in danger of becoming just a bit scrappy. After their initial flourish, it wasn't too long before Swifts were again on the back-foot and their defence did extremely well to keep the goal hungry Canvey pack at bay. Chris Duffy was providing some excellent service from the right (with his left foot!) and it was only some unfortunate finishing from JK and Bertie Brayley that saved Banks' blushes. Canvey's third goal was another superb piece of individual skill, this time from the Fisk Man of the Match, Bertie Brayley. Waiting on the edge of the Swifts penalty area with his back to goal, he collected a long ball on his chest, turned as it dropped and then hit a superb volley that connected perfectly and slammed into the far corner of the net. By now, almost everybody on the Canvey side was looking for a piece of the action and the visitors were stretched trying to keep out shots from all over. Minton wanted some, so did Duffers, JK, Boylan - even Chenners came up for corners and was unlucky not to get onto the scoresheet. But probably most desperate of all to impress was the hard working Scott Forbes. On 78 minutes he collected a ball out on the left and made a run for goal. He got closer and closer to the near post, beating three defenders on the way to the goal line. Once he was close enough to see the whites of Banks' eyes, he neatly slipped the ball into the path of Lee Boylan who scored the easiest goal of his career. Four - one in front, with another ten minutes to go. Could Canvey beat their previous record scores against their Essex neighbours? Boylan almost made it five when he converted a sweet Brayley cross, but the linesman saw an 'off-side' and so, in the end, Canvey had to settle for four. Have Canvey turned the corner? !4 goals in the last three games suggests that perhaps they have. But Jeff is aware that in that time they have also conceded 6. Will he stay with the four at the back formation that suited the side so well today? All will be revealed at Aldershot on Tuesday night. In the meantime, this was another excellent performance from The Gulls which makes a nonsense of their lowly placing in the Ryman Premier League. Match Report by Merv. Teams
Weather Conditions: Bright, mild afternoon What did you think of
today's match?
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