UNLUCKY AT CANVEY

Despite all the hard work in the opening 15 minutes Fleet were unlucky not to have taken the lead in this match. Dave Collis went close with a 25 yard free kick , which went inches past Danny Potters far post.  Fleet forced the play and from a corner the ball landed at the feet of Mark Goodfellow who beat the Canvey defence to send in a quality ball for Cliff Akurang to fire a shot which was deflected out foe another corner. Moments later Akurang burst through the defence to send in a telling cross which again the Canvey defence scrambled away to safety.

As the home side were struggling to stem the waves of Fleet attacks the ball was cleared upfield where Canvey’s best player on the day, Lee Boylan raced through to score the opening goal for The Gulls.

Fleet continued to press and forced a succession of corners, which on another day would have produced a goal.

On the half hour mark John Kennedy fired home an unstoppable shot and moments later we found ourselves three down after Lee Boylan had seen his effort saved a fantastic save by Paul Gothard, only for Gregory to score the rebound.

Many other teams have visited Park Lane and would have been dead and buried going in three down at half time but not The Fleet.

Again we put the home side defence under some early pressure and again Akurang went close. Potter had to be alert when he saved Dave Collis’ 63^rd minute free kick. Canvey Island spurred on by their supporters went further ahead after 70mins when Boylan scored his second of the match.

At 4 – 0 and just 20 minutes left the home side fans must have thought they were home and dry, some even made their way to their car’s to go home. However, Thurrock took the game back to them and within moments of Boylan’s strike Tresor Kandol hit a spectacular goal to set up an exciting last quarter of the match.

Kandol nearly doubled his tally for the game when his shot left Potter rooted to the spot but the ball cannoned off the upright back across the face of the goal and Cliff Akurang had a good penalty appeal turned down by the referee, when he appeared to have been fouled.

As the time ticked away Fleet continued to attack and were awarded a penalty for a handball. Cliff Akurang cooly blasted the spot kick past Potter.

At 4 – 2 the nerves were jangling in the home side defence and after a Canvey move broke down Paul Gothard gathered the ball and sent it flying up field.

The defence couldn’t cope with bounce of the ball and it was Kandol who reacted first, beating his marker to smash home his second of the day to make it 4 - 3.

Sadly time ran out and the comeback was not to be but all credit to the Fleet players for putting in such a great effort. Not many sides will score three at Park Lane this season. To do so and still lose made it all the more disappointing.