Cray Wanderers vs Canvey Island
Isthmian Premier – Saturday 9th August – Match Report
Cray Wanderers 2
Dickson 25, Williams 75
Canvey Island 0
Cray Wanderers began the 2025-26 season with a solid and professional performance to beat Canvey Island on a warm afternoon at Flamingo Park.
Cray were looking to consolidate after a positive pre-season and always just had the edge in the game and took the lead in the 25th minute when Chris Dickson making his return to the Wands earlier this week was on hand to turn in Tom Bonner’s header from close range.
Canvey did threaten a comeback and had a good spell after the goal and came close when Findlay Dorrell hit the left post.
The Wands though were much more in control after the break and added a second fifteen minutes when Josh Williams capped off an all action performance with a well taken goal slotted in down the right and saw out the remaining minutes fairly comfortably.
Cray sought a fifth straight home win against Canvey Island and although without the suspended Frankie Raymond and Alex Hernandez were able to call on the experience of Chris Dickson up front and Luke Allen in midfield and both had stellar games. As well as Allen, goalkeeper Harry Seaden, full backs Prosper Keto and Frankie Morgan, midfielder Tom Jackson and striker Ashley Nzala were all making their league debuts for the Wands as well as Nods Bobomurodov off the bench.
Canvey Island, now under the astute management of Peter Taylor fielded virtually a completely different side to when the teams last met on 8th March with only Elliott Ronto and Findlay Dorrell in the starting lineup.
The match began at a steady pace with Cray shading the possession and Dickson saw an early effort blocked. Canvey though did have an opening after fifteen minutes after a touch of hesitation at the back when Tyler Forbes free kick into the box led to Dorrell getting in ahead of Harry Seaden and the ball headed goalwards with Dorrell going down in the box but no penalty was given.
For Cray, Josh Williams saw a shot from just outside the area well held by Lewis Greene. Then Ashley Nzala was denied a goal by a fine tackle from Elliott Johnson. This was followed by a corner from Williams down the right to the far post being headed on to the roof of the net by Nzala.
For Canvey, Forbes’ overhit a cross down the right and then another cross led to a firm header back to Seaden by the the excellent Prosper Keto just to keep the Wands keeper on his toes.
In the 25th minute Cray took the lead when from a free kick fairly centrally twenty yards from goal, Williams ball into the box towards the left of the area was headed firmly goalwards by Tom Bonner and fell to Chris Dickson to turn the ball in from a couple of yards for a goal definitely off the training ground.
The Wands looked to kick on and Williams saw a daisy cutter shot held but Canvey did look to respond and Ronto saw an effort saved by Seaden.
Then Cray had a couple of escapes when first Dorrell put over a great cross down the right towards the far post by Shaun Mavididi placed a header wide of the right post. Then, a couple of minutes later, Dorrell was put through on goal but from the right of the area his shot came back off the left post and away from danger.
For Cray, George Brooke shot wide and almost added a second when Dickson’s classy flick put Nzala in with a chance down the left of the area but Greene did well to block and behind for a corner.
The last real shooting chance of the first half fell to Canvey when Mavididi who had a lively half saw a shot deflected off Bonner for a corner.
HT: 1-0
With the game still on a knife edge at the break, the experienced Quade Taylor was introduced in midfield and certainly helped stem Canvey’s flow and managed to keep chances for the Gulls to a minimum.
Cray began the half more in the ascendancy and Williams saw a shot blocked by Greene but Dickson just couldn’t get a firm connection and the ball was held.
Then, after a good passing movement, Nzala set up Luke Allen with a return pass and the former Dartford midfielder curled a shot just past the right post.
Cray still looked for a second goal and there were a couple of opportunities denied by a linesman’s flag. The Wands did threaten from a corner from Tom Jackson which was flicked wide by Nzala. Then, Williams and Dickson combined to set up Nzala who saw his shot blocked well by Joe Halsey.
Going into the final twenty minutes and with Canvey making three substitutions Cray just needed the comfort of a second goal and Jackson lashed a shot wide from Taylor’s layoff.
Canvey did come close to levelling in the 74th minute when one of the replacements, Chris Regis down the right saw his near post shot pushed behind by Seaden.
A minute later though Cray added a second goal well finished by Williams who deserved a goal for his display who down the right clipped the ball wide of Greene into the net with Nzala looking to also apply a touch.
From here Cray were able to manage the game although Canvey did come close when Halsey hit a snapshot which went just over the top.
Cray had been very professional and had to work hard for the win but over the ninety minutes was a merited win against a Canvey side who showed good moments themselves to give positivity for the campaign.
There were some very good performances throughout with Dickson winning the Supporters Man of the Match but there were a few contenders with the likes of Williams, Prosper Keto, Frankie Morgan, Luke Allen, Tom Bonner and Ashley Nzala all in the mix.
Cray next continue on at home on Tuesday 12th August vs Folkestone Invicta who drew their season opener at Chichester City and will be a good test for the Wands at Flamingo Park, KO: 7.45 pm.
Cray Wanderers: Harry Seaden, Prosper Keto, Remi Sutton, Tom Bonner (Capt.), Frankie Morgan, Tom Jackson (Nodirbek Bobomurodov, 76), Luke Allen (Adrian Owiredu-Gyamera, 90+1), George Brooke (Quade Taylor, H/T), Josh Williams, Ashley Nzala, Chris Dickson (Lateef Adaja, 77): Sub: Kevin Kardel
Booked: Taylor 83
Canvey Island: Lewis Greene, Joseph Halsey, Alex Moss (Danny Nesbitt, 90), Elliott Johnson (Matas Skana, 65), Michael Finneran, Kenedi Dariri, Kwabena Yeboah, Elliott Ronto (Capt.), Finlay Dorrell (Lewis Jaggs, 65), Shaun Mavididi, Tyler Forbes (Chris Regis, 65): Sub: Bobby Mason
Referee: Patrick Nixon
Assistants: Benjamin Frape, Richard Marus
Att: 351
