Just got back from Stafford

[Merv]

What a fantastic day we had on our day up north although the Stafford fans I spoke to deny they are from the north at all. They insist they are from some nondescript area called The Midlands - but I thought The Midlands was in Wales. Does that make Stafford fans Welsh? Geography never was my subject. OK, we got soaked, we had 3 hours on a coach, both ways, we got buffeted by the wind on the motorway and we had the wind and the rain in our faces for an hour and a half. But it was worth it, oh boy, it was worth it.

 

Whereas the victory over Farnborough was an exhibition of footballing skill, this was an exhibition in sticking to the job in hand, of not ever giving less than 110% and not ever taking your eye off the ball or your foot off the pedal. A truly impressive team performance where everybody in a Canvey shirt, including the players, the officials, the subs - even Tony Richardson in the bar – gave it all they had. Talking of the bar, I can’t remember getting a warmer welcome at any ground I’ve been to, although I didn’t rate the chips or burgers very highly.

 

The pitch can only be described as a pudden. It looked as if it had been re-layed midweek using turf cut from Tilbury beach. But having said that, congratulations must go to the Stafford groundstaff and volunteer supporters who worked so hard to get the game played. It seems that mid-week there was 5” of snow on the pitch and layers of ice on the terraces. They must have worked like stink to get the terraces clear and the pitch into a half-decent state. But it was hard for either team to get into any sort of flowing football and so inevitably there was a degree of lump and run.

 

The vocal support from the Yellow Army was terrific, especially in the second half when everybody congregated under the shelter behind the home goal. From the moment that Lee Boylan put the visitors into the lead in the first minute of the second half, the fans were well and truly in party mood. Top marks to the Stafford stewards who spotted half a dozen idiots making their way from the black and white end to the yellow, obviously intent on causing trouble. They immediately stepped in, isolated the ringleader and bundled him out of the ground. Pity when idiots try to spoil things – just like the Neanderthals who smashed the Stafford coach window the last time they came to Park Lane. Real supporters don’t need these hangers on, whatever colour they are wearing.

 

The first half was hard fought and the teams were just about even. 0-0 seemed a fair half-time result. The pitch cut up badly and it was difficult to place passes with any degree of accuracy for either side. Danny Potter made a superb one-on-one save within the first 15 minutes and Canvey had a penalty appeal denied after 20. It was pretty much end to end stuff with neither side really managing to make any real chances. To go in even was OK for Canvey, they had the prospect of a replay at Park Lane to look forward to, but it was getting desperate for Rangers. We assumed they must be used to the conditions, but they did little to convince us of this as the first 45 minutes drew to a close.

 

Canvey had the best start to the second half that they could have wished for. Midgely knocked a ball over the top of Lee Boylan who then ran on, losing his marker, and closed in on the keeper. As soon as he saw his chance he unleashed a powerful shot that took the visitors into the lead.

 

There were plenty more thrills and spills, probably going equally for both sides. Neil Gregory was working hard but the conditions really didn’t suit him and it must have come as something of a relief to be substituted by Kevin Dobinson after 70 minutes. Both sides came close, both sides battled hard but Stafford, being one goal down, needed to do more running than Canvey. Whenever they did, they left gaps at the back and Boylan, working on some sort of overdrive, chased every ball that came through.

 

But it was Chris Duffy who finally put the icing on Canvey’s cake. With the last kick of the game he came into the penalty area from out on the left and surprised everyone (including himself?) when, instead of checking back and crossing with his inside foot, a move he seems to have practised for years and years, he actually made a shot. The big keeper, adept at collecting all the high balls, was totally floored, literally. He couldn’t get down and Duffers had taken the game beyond any possible doubt.

 

As we walked back to the coach, one disgruntled home fan told me, in no uncertain terms, just how lucky Canvey were. It seems that the referee was totally biased in Canvey’s favour, Stafford had a definite penalty denied, Boylan handled the ball before he scored and Duffy’s goal was a fluke. He may have a point! 22 games with only one defeat, 19 points clear at the top of the table and into the last 16 in the Trophy. Must be luck and biased refereeing. Nobody is that good, surely???

 

[YELLOW]

Agree with Merv. What a great day out and a superb battling performance by Canvey in absolutely diabolical conditions.

Luckily the worst of the rain fell in the second half, any earlier and I think the game would have been abandoned.

 

Great goals by Boylan and especially Duffy (I really wasn't expecting him to shoot!) J.K worked like a trojan and Ollie produced a hard working, gutsy performance.

 

The back three did their jobs well and when called upon Danny Potter proved his worth.

 

It was never going to be pretty today but we showed tremendous spirit against a decent Stafford side.

 

Merv mentioned the welcome we got. Stafford supporters seemed a good bunch. Spoke to a few in the bar before the game. Really nice lads although they did seem gutted about not getting Stan Collymore!

 

So on to the next round. Let's hope it's not an away tie to Blyth Spartans!

[Merv]

Take a look at the SRFC discussion board. They had 90% of the game, they mullered Canvey (nil-two, I'd like to be mullered every week), the ref was biased, plus of course the usual crap about 'they should do well, they are paid so much money, blah...blah...blah...

 

They don't like it up 'em, Captain Mainwairing.

[Guest]

Not all Rangers fans see the game in purely black and white terms. I believe a draw would have been a fair result but all credit to both sides for putting on a cracking cup-tie in awful conditions. The referee was poor, but when aren't they, and there were bad decisions both ways. Both defences were on top for most of the game but the difference was Canvey took their chances whereas Rangers didn't.

 

The Canvey supporters were excellent and it made a nice change to see a good number of away fans supporting their side.

 

Good luck in the next round. From what I've seen, you won't need it.

[CANV EFM]

great result and a game we probably would have lost over the last 3 seasons.. this kind of game shows exactly the difference in the squad this year.. when the going gets tough..blah etc blah..

been looking at their message board and plenty of whinging but one or two fairer comments as well.. as for the constant m25 league jibes, lets see who the ryman have put up into the cont recently..

aldershot..mm yes they are struggling

GandN.. hanging in there better than margate

farnboro.. may stay up yet

daggers.. say no more should be in the league

stevenage yeovil etc etc

 

kettering tried it on in this league and came a lot worse then second.. we will see next year how stafford take the piss out of the likes of hornchurch thurrock grays hayes hendon etc

[Guest]

Thankfully, we will not be playing the likes of Hornchurch etc, as we should be in the "much easier", Conference North.

 

It's a valid point re the recent winners of the Ryman League however the Dr Martens League produced the likes of Rushden & Diamonds and Cheltenham. Wher are they now? I think the strength of each league is only relative to the strength of your own team. I'm sure supporters of Unibond sides would say that their league was the stronger (that was certainly the case when we visited Stalybridge pre-season). On the day, you did a job and progressed to the next round. We would have hoped for better but knew when the draw was made that we were in for a difficult encounter.

[cangull]

What really bugs me is the silly remarks made on the stafford board regarding yesterdays game in compairing the two leagues. The playing surface was hardly the setting to make comparisons between two teams let alone leagues, the referee also had to make allowances for the pitch conditions and he made mistakes but made the best of a bad situation, so too did the players, it was never going to be a pretty game.

Considering the conditions, I am surprised that there wasnt some bad injuries especially the way the Stafford players were 'going in' and we have yet to see what post game injuries will come to the surface in the next few days.

I would like to commend the Stafford stewards who appeared to react very well to contain a half dozen or more home supporters who were so very obviously looking to create trouble.

 

Who was the guy who never turned up for the 'B' coach after the game, did he get a lift back by car with someone without informing Chris G,

or is he still walking back??

 

Finally a big thanks to all the players for making that long journey very worthwhile. <img src="/images/graemlins/applaus.gif" alt="" />

[YELLOW]

Quote:

Pilgrim said:

Who was the guy who never turned up for the 'B' coach after the game, did he get a lift back by car with someone without informing Chris G,
or is he still walking back??

I was on the 'B' coach and nobody knew who he was! Apparently he phoned Chris Gardner asking where the coaches had gone! By this time we were halfway up the motorway!

The last I heard he was trying to get a lift back with somebody. I think he might have got home on the player's coach. Where he dissappeared to after the game I don't know. Perhaps he fancied a sly drink!