Canvey Island Vs Cray Wanderers
Isthmian Premier – Saturday 29th November – Match Report
Canvey Island 1
Skarna 49
Cray Wanderers 1
Taylor 52
In a match affecting both ends of the Isthmian Premier league table Cray Wanderers drew on the road for the eighth time this season at Canvey Island as Quade Taylor’s third goal of the season quickly cancelled out Matas Skarna’s goal for the Gulls.
Cray though had the chances first half to get a grip on the game with two penalties from Chris Dickson and Ashley Nzala which were both saved by Luis Lines. Skarna’s cross-shot gave Canvey the lead in the 49th minute but three minutes later Taylor finished impressively following a scramble from a corner. Cray though had to see out the final moments with ten men as Tom Bonner was sent off to two bookable offences.
The Wands starting in sixth place were looking maintain a positive start to the season with a rare victory at Canvey Island who began in twentieth place on ten points. There were three changes to the starting lineup to the team which drew at home to Burgess Hill Town last Saturday. Tom Bonner returned along with Frankie Raymond and Quade Taylor from suspension in place of Ralfi Hand, Harry Waldock and the suspended Harry Revill. On the bench were two new signings, midfielder Ayman El-Mogharbel signed from Sittingbourne and wide midfielder Freddie Price most recently at Royston Town and Bowers & Pitsea.
Canvey also made three changes with Charlie Stimson, Michael Finneran and Conor Hubble coming in for Finlay Dorrell, Elliott Johnson and Elliott Ronto from the side beaten at Cheshunt on Tuesday night.
On a damp afternoon Cray began the game positively and in the opening minute Kareem Isiaka came close with an effort saved by Luis Lines who would go on to have a fine game in the Canvey goal.
Cray had the better possession early on but Canvey came into the game around the quarter of an hour mark and Scott Kashet fired in a shot from outside the area which caused Harry Seaden some problems and managed to push the ball out. Then a cross from the right almost came to Charlie Stimson but Seaden managed to block the ball and went across goal.
In the 17th minute Cray came closest yet when Remi Sutton down the left made a fine run and put over a cross to the far post for Ashley Nzala who saw his effort come back off the right post and following up Quade Taylor saw a shot blocked.
Two minutes later with the game coming alive the Wands were awarded a penalty when Lateef Adaja was brought down just inside the area but from the spot, Chris Dickson’ shot was saved by Lines at his right post.
The game then became a bit scrappier although there was a half chance for Canvey when down the right Michael Salako saw his effort blocked by Seaden’s legs.
In the 44th minute following a corner the Wands were awarded another perhaps more slightly harsher penalty when Sutton was adjudged to have been caught inside the area by Oliver Reeve. However, Cray were frustrated from the spot once again as Nzala’s kick was this time saved by his left post by Lines.
HT: 0-0
It was just looking like it might be one of those days for Cray and being punished for not converting chances when four minutes after half time Canvey took the lead as down the left Matas Skarna’s cross-shot towards goal went into the net with Salako looking to apply a touch in the six yard box.
Three minutes later Cray were back on level terms following a corner down the right with Frankie Raymond’s cross into the six yard box initially missing Quade Taylor but rebounding off Chris Dickson fell to Taylor to smash home to make it 1-1.
Cray then had the chance to go ahead two minutes later through Nzala down the right of the area but his shot at the near post was met by a fine save from Lines.
The Wands had more of the ball without being able to make the breakthrough. Dickson fired over the top and then Taylor who had a fine game in midfield saw a low shot saved by Lines.
Freddie Price and Ayman El-Mogharbel both made their debuts off the bench with just over twenty minutes to go but the game became a scrappier affair in the latter stages with Canvey having more possession.
The Wands perhaps came closest to finding a winner with two minutes to go when Lateef Adaja made a positive run forward but saw his shot go just past the left post.
In the 89th minute the Wands were reduced to ten men when Tom Bonner was sent off for his second caution in four minutes for a foul by the left touchline on Oliver Reeve.
Canvey who had battled well in the game sensed they could grab a winner and applied pressure with a late free kick close to goal but in the end if finished all square and an eleventh draw of the season for the Wands. This was a game where Cray may feel an opportunity for the three points was missed especially with two penalty awards and moved down one place to seventh in the table on 29 points while Canvey drop one place to twenty first in the table on 11 points.
Cray will now head into December beginning at Potters Bar Town next Saturday before league games before Christmas at home to Whitehawk on 12th December and at Wingate & Finchley on 20th December.
Canvey Island: Luis Lines, Joe Halsey, Oliver Reeve, Charlie Stimson (Calum Newson, 78), Mike Finneran (Capt.) (Elliott Johnson, 63), Kenedi Dariri, Kwabena Yeboah, Conor Hubble, Michael Salako, Scott Kashket (Louie Remi, 73), Matas Skarna: Subs: Luke Ige, Finlay Dorrell
Booked: Finneran 33, Stimson 45+1, Remi 90+3
Cray Wanderers: Harry Seaden, Adrian Owiredu-Gyamera, Remi Sutton, Tom Bonner (Capt.), Frankie Morgan, Frankie Raymond, Quade Taylor, Ashley Nzala (Ayman El-Mogharbel, 68), Lateef Adaja, Kareem Isiaka, Chris Dickson (Freddie Price, 68): Subs: Prosper Keto, Ralfi Hand, Mitch Chapman
Sent Off: Bonner 89 (2 cautions)
Booked: Bonner 85, Raymond 90+3
Referee: Christopher Poole
Assistants: Alfie Watts, Marco Goumal
Att: 324
