Competitive football returned to the Brockwell Stadium this evening as Canvey Island entertained Harrow Borough a fixture that more often than not has proved difficult for Canvey to get a result.

James Rowe had a great chance to put Canvey ahead after just 16 seconds, when he beat Harrow’s backline early but his effort flashed wide of the far post. Harrow reacted strongly to the early scare but their woeful finishing and some last gasp defending from Canvey prevented them from taking the lead on several occasions during the first-half.

Canvey playing a 4-3-3 formation were being stretched as Harrow used the extra man in midfield to their advantage, playing very wide down the flanks with Canvey reverting to long balls for the three forwards to run onto.

With roughly ten minutes of the first-half left to play though, shouts from the Canvey dug-out called for the players to re-shape as 4-4-2 and from then on Canvey took control of the game. Jay Curran had dropped back from the front line to play on the right of the midfield leaving Danny Heale and James Rowe to link play up top.

It was this strike partnership that combined for form Canvey’s first goal a minute before half-time. Danny Heale picked up a long ball out on Canvey’s left and found himself with time and space to his advantage. Heale looked up and placed his cross at the far post into the path of onrushing James Rowe, who directed his header under the ‘Keeper and into the net totally against the run of play.

H/T: Canvey Island 1 – 0 Harrow Borough

Canvey began the second half with the same momentum as they finished the first with the pace of Curran and the fight of Matt Game in the middle giving Harrow no time on the ball. Harrow though were very unsportsmanlike on a few occasions, one of which was feigning injury on 49 minutes and Danny Heale getting booked in an incident the Referee didn’t see first-hand.

Canvey made Harrow pay on 51 minutes as Jay Curran made a superb run down the right before making his way with the ball inside and placing an inch perfect pass to the feet of Danny Heale, who beat Harrow’s offside trap. Heale smashed his effort straight at Nick Jupp, but fortunately the rebound fell to James Rowe following up whose lightening quick reactions allowed him to knee the ball over the stranded Jupp for his second of the night.

In a moment of frustration Jay Curran was booked for kicking the ball away on 69 minutes before a double Harrow substitution on 71 minutes with Ronayne Marsh-Brown and Troy Hewitt being replaced by Kenta Nakashima and Kurt Morlese.

With nine minutes remaining the fiery Jason Hallett looked to get involved with the action, replacing Danny Heale and Canvey riding high in confidence had several efforts off target to win by a more comfortable margin but will certainly look to carry this momentum forward into their home game with Carshalton this Saturday.

Full-Time: Canvey Island 2 – 0 Harrow Borough