CAFC vs Canvey Island – Match Report
David Smith ensured the Robins extended their winning streak to six games following a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Canvey Island on Saturday at Colston Avenue.
There were two changes for Peter Adeniyi’s side following the statement 3-1 win over former National League South outfit Dover Athletic. Luke Read was absent from first-team proceedings owing to injury, so Tommy Bradford came into the midfield, with Fabio Saraiva dropping into the heart of the defence. Joshua Shonibare, meanwhile, was replaced by Nabeel Ghannam, who returned to the starting XI after recovering from a hamstring issue. Shonibare was unlucky to miss out, especially given his excellent goal last week. Additionally, Soul Kader returned to parent club, Bromley, following the conclusion of his one-month loan. However, as one player departed, another arrived, with the Robins excited to welcome Wimbledon striker Paris Lock on loan; the attacker being named among the substitutes.
It was a disastrous start for the Reds after the visitors took the lead inside five minutes thanks to former Hashtag player Darren Foxley. Having survived a couple of threatening deliveries into the penalty area, which saw Fabio Saraiva deny Conor Hubble’s header from nestling in the net, Foxley received the ball in space and flashed it into the bottom left-hand corner beyond a diving Mackenzie Foley. Following that, Carshalton enjoyed the lion’s share of possession and probed Canvey; however, the defensive resolve of the Islanders was paying dividends. The Robins issued a barrage of crosses into the penalty area, mainly from the main attacking threat Nathan Paul-Lavaly,
but they were repelled. Adeniyi’s side’s first real chance of note came in the 15th minute when Fabio Saraiva’s inswinging corner was headed goalbound by Kwaku Frimpong, yet the tightness of the angle saw Mason gather it comfortably.
On the 20-minute mark, a deep diagonal into the penalty area was spilt by Mason, and an alert Ghannam latched onto it but could not retain possession to stab into the empty net. Moments later, Saraiva curled a 20-yard free kick down the right channel into the wall before sending the volleyed follow-up blazing over the bar. Midway through, the Reds were moving the ball well and piling immense attacking pressure on the Gulls; that said, the lads were struggling to break them down and forge any goalscoring opportunities. Although Carshalton were in the ascendancy and an equaliser seemed to be edging closer, frustration was growing, there were a significant number of cynical challenges disrupting the momentum, and Canvey were a threat on the break. Heading into the final third of the half, Mason Saunders-Henry drove a set piece into the wall.
The Robins were having all of the possession but could not find a way through the well-disciplined Canvey outfit. Their deep defensive line was extremely compact and it meant playing through the lines or keeping the ball in the final third was very difficult. With five minutes until the break, Bryan Ifeanyi manufactured the shooting chance and searched for the top right-hand corner; however, the strike hit the side netting. On the stroke of halftime, the Gulls showed more attacking intent calling Foley into action twice, but failing to test the Robins shot-stopper. Two minutes of additional time were indicated and moments later Gulls captain Jamie Salmon was forced to depart proceedings after being brandished a second yellow for a dangerous kick to the chest on Tommy Bradford. It had been coming.
It was the perfect start to the second 45 for Carshalton; Smith’s tenacity saw him reach a long ball in behind down the right channel. The No. 9 cut back to find Ifeanyi, who fashioned it onto his left to whip the delivery towards the far post for Ghannam to stab home on the volley at full stretch across Mason.
That is now four goals for the January arrival. With the score level, wave after wave of Reds attacks were being subdued; that said, it was apparent Adeniyi’s side were pushing to extend their advantage. A few minutes later, Paul-Lavaly took the ball down extremely well to attack right and pull the delivery back for another well-struck Ghannam volley that was denied by our own player Bradford near the goal line. Ifeanyi’s sliced follow-up then evaded the top left-hand corner. On the hour mark, Bradford took the set piece on the edge of the penalty area short, laying off Frimpong to the right of the box, yet the side-footed effort was tame and straight down Mason’s throat. Moments later, Paul-Lavaly cushioned a cross onto the head of Smith, but the striker miscued the header before the assistant raised his flag for offside.
Mid-way through, Sankoh, Ifeanyi, and Ghannam combined well down the left flank for the latter to tee up Frimpong to rattle the post following a beautifully struck curling effort that had Mason rooted to the spot. Sixty-seven minutes in, Adeniyi’s side pegged back the visitors thanks to Smith netting his 15th goal of the 2024-25 campaign. Saraiva’s inswinging corner was headed back across goal by Saunders-Henry and Smith applied the close-range finish,
sparking jubilation among the Robins choir behind the goal. Bidding to extend their advantage himself, Bradford carried the ball through the middle and drove it low and hard wide of the post. With ten minutes until time, the Reds were eager to forge a two-goal cushion and Paul-Lavaly attempted to square the ball across to Smith; however, the Canvey defender managed to scramble it clear. As Carshalton platformed some delicious one-touch football, sloppy fouls were giving the Gulls a potential avenue back into the game owing to their aerial threat from set pieces. In the dying embers, there was a much-welcomed return for Michael Dada, who got injured in the Boxing Day defeat to Dulwich Hamlet, Dada replaced Bradford.
Six minutes of additional time were indicated as Adeniyi introduced Lock and Shonibare to proceedings. The Robins maintained the intensity of their press and forced Canvey into silly errors and giving away possession cheaply. Eventually, the referee’s whistle went and confirmed the Reds had sealed all three points.
The victory extends our winning streak to six games and moves us up to sixth place on 48 points, just outside the play-off places, with the points gap into single figures, eight. There will be hopes that Carshalton can carry forward the momentum into Friday against Potters Bar Town.
Up Next
Date: Friday, February 14, 2025
Venue: The Orbital Fasteners Stadium
Kick-off: 07:45 pm
Admission: £13 (Adults), £10 (Concessions, includes students and over 65s), £1 (U16). ID with proof of age may be required.
Tickets: Click here for information on Admission Prices
