Canvey Island 2 - 2 Purfleet

FLEET COMEBACK CLIPS GULLS' WINGS

One week after the shock FA Cup exit the lads certainly showed that they have more character than some would have you believe. The average age of the side was 22 and when taking into consideration all the stick levelled at them recently they certainly responded in the most positive of ways.

This fixture is normally produces an entertaining game for the fans and they could not have been disappointed with this one. The early exchanges saw both teams try to gain some control on the game but to be fair it was all fairly even and as usual both defences were solid.

The home side spurred on by a large and noisy crowd were awarded a free kick, which saw some puzzled looks on the faces of both sets of players, After Jamie Southon was adjudged to have pushed a Canvey forward on the edge of the box. Protheroe fired The Gulls home from the freekick.

Canvey went further ahead when Dean Chandler was unlucky to concede a penalty after sliding in to clear a loose ball. Up stepped Boylan and put the home side firmly in the driving seat. To anyone not at the game, this would up to now sound a one sided affair but it was anything but and the excellent Paul Linger and Craig Edwards continued to drive the lads forward in search of a goal.

The Canvey fans must have fancied their chances as the second half got under way but Colin's young side had other ideas. It would have been all too easy for them to let their heads drop and just play out the half. That was never to be the case, in a memorable 45 minutes the Fleet youngsters responded in a positive and determined manner. Cliff Akurang and Steve Brown led the line well and with Linger and Edwards in such good form something was bound to happen. Perhaps it was one of Fleets best players of the day - Lee Allen who deserved to get the goal and he did with a well-placed header.

A second goal always looked likely and when Linger scored it was no more than the lads deserved. New boy David Hadrava had a steady game out on the left-hand side and he soon settled in.

All in all this was a display that every Purfleet fan should be proud of.