| Canvey Island
came into this game needing
a win to maintain their faltering
promotion challenge, but it
was Harrow who began the better
with three corners in the first
two minutes of this competitively
fought match. Indeed for the
first 15 minutes Harrow were
causing the Canvey defence problems,
but slowly the Gulls began to
take control.
They were to be rewarded in
the 27th minute. Canvey's Neil
Gregory found himself clear
after a slip in the Harrow defence
and he shot along the ground
straight at goalkeeper Matthew
Ferguson. Although the Australian
keeper got down well to the
shot the ball hit his hands
before tamely and slowly going
into the bottom left hand corner
of the net. Harrow have gifted
their opponents too many goals
this season and this was yet
another one.
To their credit, Harrow came
back and Daniel Dyer was particularly
threatening in both the 31st
and 35th minutes, making good
crosses which should have been
converted into goals. In the
38th minute Harrow did equalise
when after neat passing started
by Clemente Lopez, Fabio Valenti
found himself unmarked and side
footed the ball past the advancing
Danny Potter in goal and into
the net. Dyer again made chances
in the 42nd and 45th minutes
but the first half honours ended
even.
Canvey began the better in
the second half, and were to
be the better team for the rest
of the game. They attacked relentlessly
down each flank, and were unlucky
after a fierce shot by Gregory
went narrowly wide in the 49th
minute, followed by a great
save by Ferguson in the Harrow
goal in the 55th minute. Lee
Boylan was also just off target
for Canvey in the 58th minute
after a fluffed clearance by
Dean Marney. Somehow Harrow
survived and although fans were
drifting home, Canvey were not
to be denied. In injury time,
the ball was crossed for substitute
Ollie Berquez to tap home from
close range. |
In form Borough
against high flying Canvey Island
promised to be an entertaining
game and it certainly was and
good value for money.
Within minutes Borough forced
3 corners as Canvey tried to
settle, but best effort was
a Dean Marney header brushing
the crossbar. Then Fabio Valenti
left clear on the right flank
raced inside the box but his
shot was blocked by Duffy and
spiralled over the bar. Canvey’s
industrious playmaker Minton
helped to settle their nerves
as from his free kick he found
Boylan on the far side of goal
but his thumping shot across
goal went narrowly wide. Then
Daniel Dyer caught in possession
by Chenery saw him race into
the middle but his shot grazed
the left upright. Canvey continued
to pressure with a series of
corners, as Pat Gavin and the
overworked Richard Goddard battled
to control the home packed penalty
area. On 27 minutes a Jamie
Osborn miskick fell to Boylan
25 yards out and his innocuously
driven shot went straight at
Matt Ferguson who stopped the
shot easily but somehow contrived
to let it slip through his hands
and roll slowly over the line.
Shades of Borough’s first
Karamoko goal given away against
Aldershot early this month.
Stunned Borough (and the fans)
recovered as Dyers pace took
him along the right flank but
his shot into the visitors area
saw Johnson flick the ball over
his own crossbar as the inrushing
Lopez was preparing to shoot.
From the corner Marney’s
header just missed the right
top corner. The Lopez got to
the by line and managed to hook
the ball across goal to Valenti
but his shot was blocked. Borough
pressure told when on 39 minutes
Fitzsimon combined with Lopez
who’s pinpoint pass across
goal to Valenti out 15 yards
saw him drive low under the
keeper’s body for a deserved
equaliser. As half time approached
Valenti’s pass found the
unmarked Dyer who with only
the advancing keeper to beat
, cracked the ball straight
at him - a good chance.
From the restart Borough were
on the offensive but Canvey’s
defence held out, with the best
chance falling to Valenti but
his slow reaction to Dyer’s
cross allowed Ward to clear
his lines. Then Canvey went
up a gear with Gregory firing
over the bar and then in their
next raid Gregory brought out
a brilliant diving save from
Ferguson but the ball fell loose
to Boylan whose return shot
was hooked off the line by Marney.
Minton continued to beguile
the home defence as he beat
3 defenders but his tame shot
was safely taken by the keeper.
Then a mix-up between defenders
Marney and Adam Everitt elbowed
a free shot at goal by Gregory
but it went wide..
From a Minton corner into the
middle Gregory’s power
shot saw another acrobatic save
by Ferguson but the loose ball
fell to Boylan on the far side
who hooked over the bar. With
Borough noticeably tiring all
three substitutes were used
but Canvey continued to dominate,
with Graham shooting over the
bar and then Boylan hooking
over. Ferguson and the home
defence continued to be peppered
by shots from Boylan and Gregory
led by Minton and on 90 minutes
their pressure was rewarded
as Boylan sweeping pass into
the home area saw Berquez shoot
low past the unsighted keeper.
With seconds left Lopez run
on the left managed a cross
into Canvey’s area but
there was no one to finish the
job. They were drained.
|
