Bad day at the office for Blues

The Blues were outplayed against fellow relegation avoiders Canvey

Met Police were completely outplayed by relegation rivals Canvey Island, who themselves would have gained a momentous boost of confidence with a strong performance.

It was clear from early on that the visitors were intent with using through balls to create their chances, which the Met were struggling to cope with. This was seen in the 9th minute when striker George Sykes was put through on goal but scuffed his shot well wide. It appeared that the Blues were also finding it difficult to cope with the aerial force of the visitors; and ultimately this proved significant for Canvey’s first goal in the 26th minute. Ashley Dumas delivered a superb, curling free kick which beat the Met’s defensive line and allowed Steve Sheehan to head home. The home side were not able to create a clear chance in the half, their reliance on direct balls to the strikers which consequently left Roman Michael Percil and Lloyd Macklin.

While Met Police attempted to have a more attacking emphasis in the second half, this only served to weaken an already faltering defensive performance. The home side where the perpetrators of their own downfall in the 60th minute when Will Salmon was dispossessed by winger Harrison Chatting. Chatting found himself one-on-one with Met ‘keeper Brannon Daley and he calmly slotted the ball past him to double Canvey’s lead. It was 3-0 only 6 minutes later due diminutive striker Sykes cutting in from the left wing and then striking past the inside of Daly’s goal. Canvey keeper Connor Cough was tested very rarely, in the 69th minute he was forced to tip and a header from Ola Sogbanmu over the bar after a long throw by Ollie Robinson. In the 75th minute the Blues were furtherly embarrassed, when Canvey captain Ryan Blackman was put through on goal by Chatting. Blackman scuffed his shot, but it still managed to beat Daly.

Full Time score: Met. Police 0-4 Canvey Island