Ryman League - Hornchurch 0 Canvey Island 0

[Urchins]

Weather-wise it was a horrible, wet day. But that didn't dampen the spirits of the players, or the supporters who huddled under any covered accommodation they could find. This was destined to be a tight game between two footballing sides made trickier by the greasy surface, but probably not many of the (nearly) 1200 spectators would have expected it to be goalless.

 

That it did so was down to the Danny Gay and, when he was beaten, the Hornchurch woodwork. John Martin had an early chance but skewed his shot wide after the surface beat defender John Kennedy, but Canvey soon got into their stride and hit the post from a Jeff Minton 20 yard free kick after 13 minutes. Lee Boylan and Neil Midgely went close with similar efforts mid-way through the half, sticking a leg out to try and direct a cross which skimmed across the pitch. Lloyd Opara broke down the right on the half hour and shot into the arms of Danny Potter when he may have had better options if he had looked to centre and Gay saved well from Gregory after a slip by Steve West ten minutes later. We finished the half well with Potter having to tip over a cross from John Keeling.

 

An early chance in the second half fell to Canvey with Boylan sending a diving header over from a Minton cross. Minton blasted over from 18 yards when well placed on the hour and Gay made another good save this time from Boylan three minutes later. With 20 minutes to go, George Borg made a triple substition which, along with a change by Canvey, went so quickly the PA announcer struggled to keep up (hurry up Max !) and it was Canvey's new addition Junior McDougal who headed against the bar two minutes later. With 15 minutes left Steve West put Vinnie John clear wide on the right but his attempt to lift the ball over the keeper drifted wide.

 

Perhaps surprisingly for a game with so much to stake there were no cautions but maybe that was more due to the good marshalling from referee Toyer.

 

Line-up: Gay, Gooding, Kerrigan, Adedeji, West, Locke (Southon 70), Keeling (Allen 70), J Martin, John, Opara (McGowan 70), Graham. Subs not used:- Douglas, Collier (GK)

[Digger The Cat]

A Good result, I was very impressed by Canvey their counter attacking was very good, and caused us hgh problems down the wings.

BUT Danny Gay was excellant and well deserves my Man of the Match.

Don't agree about the ref though!

[maxinio]

Certainly from my angle a good game under very difficult conditions

very well controlled by the ref, you're always going to have some dubious decisions, but no cards just good commensense

Well done to you the fans as well, please get there early for these matches, for your own benefit as well

cheers

[Horniman]

I think the "flooded" conditions suited the pikeys.

[Guv]

It has to be said that physically Canvey were much stronger yesterday. Their back four , all over 6ft gave them the basis to take control of the game for long periods. We must have the smallest midfield in the league and most second balls were won by Canvey. It was only in the last fifteen minutes that John Martin found time on the ball to have some influence. Its not out style to hit the ball long, but I suppose where we under pressure it was the easy option. A point gained in my opinion, but Canvey will certainly take some stopping.