Canvey Island 5 Tonbridge 2

Match 61/14/1170 - Saturday 31st January 2015 - Ryman Premier

Canvey Island (3) 5 Sykes 6,24,36 Showunmi 59 Tweddell 87
Tonbridge (1) 2 Taylor 39, Parter 86
Att. 321

Entrance: £5 Senior
Programme: £2
Mileage: 120/4,582

Match Report

Sometimes these posts write themselves, others are more difficult and the odd one becomes virtually impossible. This was definitely one of the latter. All sorts of emotive words spring to mind, but if this is what we can expect from Tonbridge in the closing weeks of this season, then despair (as to its conclusion) is the one that I would choose.

More text to follow, when the frame of mind is a bit more level-headed.

Okay, so it didn’t take a week to calm down, but there have only been a couple of times when I’ve been quite as angry leaving a football ground this season. Once was Gillingham’s home defeat against Scunthorpe United, which at the time I hoped was their low point and the other was Tonbridge’s FA Cup exit at Redhill.

I can take losing on the chin; the clubs that I support do so all too often. I also respect player’s abilities and lower my expectations according to the level that I’m watching, but whether that be at Wembley or Westfield, Barcelona or Beckenham as a paying customer I deserve nothing less than wholehearted commitment and as a supporter nothing is going to stick in the throat quite like watching your team throw in the towel.

It was a bitterly cold afternoon on Canvey Island, the kick off was preceded by a heavy snow shower and the wind blowing off the estuary cut through as many layers of clothing as you had chosen to wear. It was the type of afternoon where a good football match in front of your eyes would distract you from the frost that was already eating at the extremities, what wasn’t required was a capitulation.

Since my last visit to the Prospects Stadium, a couple of small enclosures have been added on the far touchline, a welcome, sheltered alternative to the quite impressive terracing behind the goal.

Tonbridge are a side without confidence, but coming into the game, Canvey were in little better form without a win in six weeks.

After six minutes a poor clearance was returned to the feet of George Sykes, a 20-year-old loanee from Barnet, who shot across the diving body of Kyle Merson into the far corner to put the Essex side in front. It might be harsh, be it did look like a shot that Merson might have saved, and whilst the poor clearance did him no favours, it was the forerunner of an absolute nightmare for the Angels’ goalkeeper.

Enoch Showunmi, whose clubs in his Football League days featured the likes of Bristol City and Leeds United and also made two international appearances for Nigeria, was sent through on goal, but he took an age to steady himself allowing a Tonbridge defender to clear from the line.

A second goal, though, was not too far away and, on 24 minutes, Sykes crashed in a shot from the edge of the box following a corner.

After 36 minutes the game was over as a contest as Sykes completed his first half hat trick. A corner from the left from the rather portly Dave Collis, found Merson flapping hopelessly at the cross and once the ball fell at the feet of the youngster the finish was academic.

On the odd occasion that Tonbridge were able to get forward, Canvey’s own frailties at the back were exposed. A ball into the box caused confusion and Joe Taylor was on hand to stab the ball into the net from close range to give visitors a little bit of hope going into the break.

On the hour that hope was extinguished and Merson’s afternoon of despair was almost complete. Canvey were awarded a free kick, 20 yards from goal, Showunmi’s attempt wasn’t a stunning effort but somehow the ball found its way over the body of Merson after the keeper had seemingly the ball in his grasp.

The final throes of the game saw Jack Parter reduce the deficit to two with a shot from the edge of the box, once again proving the point that had Tonbridge put their hosts under serious pressure there were goals for the taking before Harrison Tweddell, who was at Longmead earlier in the season, inflicted Merson’s final indignity. A shot from Sykes was parried only into the path of Tweddell, who had the simplest of chances to round-up the nap hand.

It was cold, it was miserable and, for Steve McKimm as much as anybody else, it was a chastening experience and completely unacceptable. We understand the budget restraints, but Tonbridge, on this performance, are not sleepwalking to relegation, they are freefalling.