Canvey Island was lucky to snatch a point at the death from tonight’s fixture against Wealdstone in a game that presented little for the fans and showed all the hallmarks of two teams reflecting their current league standings.

With a heavy crosswind coming off the Thames Estuary both teams found it difficult to play their styles of football and many balls above ten feet off the floor were hard to control.

Robbie King had Canvey’s first effort of the game on 7 minutes as he hit a half-volley from a tight angle over the bar from just inside the ‘Stones’ penalty area.

A last-gasp tackle from John Easterford prevented Wealdstone taking the lead a minute later as Danny Spendlove was allowed all the time in the World to attack down his left before cutting inside and bringing the ball inside Canvey’s area. Easterford’s timely challenge put the ball out for a corner, which was easily cleared at the near post by Easterford again.

Robbie King had another great chance on 14 minutes, but he curled his free-kick into the side netting of Sean Thomas’ near post.

Wealdstone had a chance of their own again two minutes after as Kurtney Brooks’ effort from the edge of the area curled away from goal and narrowly fizzed past James Russell’s far post.

After the opening twenty minutes the game petered out and only a succession of corners from Alex Rhodes just before the half-hour kept the home crowd entertained. The closest came as Thomas failed the clear his lines punching the ball into the air, but no-one seemed to be able to connect with the ball cleanly enough to either send it into the back of the net or clear the danger. Eventually the ball fell past the post and out for a goal-kick.

Two minutes before half-time and Canvey were forced into a substitution with Kevin Dobinson being replaced by Jason Hallett and it was the loss of the influential midfielder that seemed to turn Canvey’s run of the mill performance into a lacklustre showing for the second half.

H/T: Canvey Island 0 - 0 Wealdstone

Canvey’s best effort so far fell to Hallett on 48 minutes. Danny Heale laid off a short ball into the path of Hallett and he beat the offside trap to find himself one on one with Thomas. Thomas though did well the close the space between Hallett and himself with Hallett smashing the ball at Thomas’ legs before being cleared from danger.

John Easterford was cautioned on 63 minutes before Ben Long replaced Danny Spendlove for Wealdstone on the 68 minute mark.

Substitute Jason Hallett was substituted himself by Hussein Isa shortly after, before Wealdstone capitalised on a serious lapse in concentration in Canvey’s defence with just fifteen minutes remaining.

A poor back-pass between defenders was snatched away by Scott Fitzgerald, leaving him through on goal with only James Russell to beat. Russell did well to come off his line rapidly, but he went to ground early as Fitzgerald simply rounded him and placed the ball into the corner of the net.

Canvey’s defensive frailties had been exposed once more and a reply looked very short of coming.

Matt Game received Canvey’s second caution of the night on 78 minutes and two minutes later Ben Long would’ve doubled Wealdstone’s lead had his effort been two inches lower. From just outside the area Long unleashed an effort that cannoned off the underside of the bar and bounced out with John Easterford heading the loose ball away and receiving a boot to the head in the process, which held up play for several minutes.

The tempo of the game was almost non-existent for the final fifteen minutes and with the game heading deep into its final minute of stoppage time a moment of brilliance from Alex Rhodes denied Wealdstone victory.

Rhodes trapped the ball with one touch out on the touchline before knocking the ball past his marker and heading into the penalty area. Once inside the penalty area he cut inside and beat a second defender, finally rifling an effort across the face of goal, under Sean Thomas and into the far corner, bringing the scores level and leaving the Wealdstone Management seething at the fact those four minutes had been added on by the Referee.

F/T: Canvey Island 1 - 1 Wealdstone