Canvey find the weather grim and the late winner Grimwood!

A.F.C. Sudbury welcomed Canvey Island to The king’s Marsh on a windy afternoon with squally rain lashing across the park for large potions of the afternoon.

Canvey Island kicked-off the game attacking from right to left as viewed from the Brian Tatum seated stand. Joe Whight’s long throw from the left on three minutes saw Canvey Island goal-keeper Lamar Johnson off his line to gather the ball. The home side had a short-lived triumph when Sean Marks knocked the ball into the net, but an off-side flag was raised and the goal disallowed. On six minutes Callum Harrison combined well with Tom Maycock whose ball into Billy Holland saw him fire a shot over the crossbar. Three minutes on and Reece Harris crossed from wide on the right and Callum Harrison shot into the side netting when at full stretch. Harris sent a curling thirteenth minute shot wide of the right hand post from just outside the penalty area as the home side continued to press.

Canvey Island were looking strong on the break and on the quarter-hour Dan Humphreys worked his way into the home penalty and sent a cross just out of the reach of Ryan Melaugh. A twentieth minute free-kick, dangerously delivered by Baris Altintop, was met by the head of Joe Grimwood who sent the ball just over the visitor’s crossbar. On twenty-eight minutes Callum Harrison’s long-range shot flashed wide of the right hand post before Joe Grimwood’s cross was cut out by Johnson in the Canvey Island goal. A.F.C. Sudbury grabbed the lead on thirty-five minutes however when Sean Marks was fouled while challenging for the ball following a Callum Harrison free-kick. Tom Maycock stepped up to cooly roll the ball into the right hand side of the goal as Lamar Johnson leapt away to his left. It was almost 2-0 just shy of the break when Sean Marks released Reece Harris, his shot being saved by a sprawling Johnson before Ben Hammett’s follow-up shot was saved by the Canvey island ‘keeper. Right on the whistle Tom Maycock’s superb cross was hit behind for a corner as Reece Harris threatened in front of goal.

HT 1-0

Billy holland sent Reece Harris through on goal to shoot straight at Johnson. On fifty-two minutes Ben Hammett’s superb tackle denied Canvey Island a route straight through on goal as the home defence continued to work really hard. The rain lashed down, but the two sides were providing a fine game which still hung in the balance as we reached the hour mark. On sixty-one minutes Albert Levett tested Paul Walker with a well-struck low shot, but the Sudbury number one leapt superbly to push away at the expense of a corner. Ben Hunter came on on sixty-three minutes to replace Callum Harrison. Sudbury continued to press the visitors hard for what felt might be the decisive next goal. Reece Harris sent a corner from the left wing which Billy Holland headed towards goal, with Johnson gathering under the close attentions of Sean Marks. On seventy-seven minutes the Canvey defence somehow cleared the ball after a melee in the penalty area in which both Sean Marks and Billy Holland had attempts to score blocked.

It could have been all over with ten minutes remaining when Ben Hunter’s sublime ball into Sean Marks saw the home side outnumber the defence five to one, but the Sudbury striker slipped the ball wide of goal. On eighty-four minutes Canvey Island equalised with a well executed goal, Kane Gilbert diving to head home a left wing cross. Ben Hammet’s fine afternoon was ended when he was replaced by Freddie King with four minutes remaining. From the re-start Reece Harris headed a cross from deep on the left, wide of goal. On ninety-minutes A.F.C. Sudbury stole all three points when Joe Grimwood stabbed home a Reece Harris corner following a scramble in front of the Canvey Island goal. On ninety-one minutes Lewis O’Malley replaced Sean Marks.

Sudbury saw out time with great efficiency as the four added minutes came and went. An excellent game of football with the home side building pleasingly on their brilliant display in the F.A. Trophy last week with three league points. Canvey Island proved to be a tough, well organised and skilful opponent and Sudbury can take great heart from this important victory.

Richard Whiting