CAFC vs Canvey Island – Match Preview
Carshalton Athletic travel to Essex for an Isthmian Premier face-off against Canvey Island on Tuesday evening following a hard-fought dramatic 2-2 draw with Hendon FC on Saturday.
Robins Review
After consecutive weeks of cup action, Peter Adeniyi’s side returned to the league on Saturday against Hendon and secured a point after a last-gasp Paris Hamilton-Downes leveller. Currently, the Robins sit in 12th place on 13 points with a game in hand over Chichester, Folkestone, and Hendon, languishing above. The weekend’s result extended the unbeaten streak in the league to four games; however, Adeniyi was less than impressed with the performance. There will be hopes that the Reds can pick up a victory on the road Tuesday.
Canvey Island
Canvey Island suffered a narrow 1-0 home loss at the hands of Folkestone Invicta Saturday following a Bradley Sach own goal on the hour mark.
Canvey Island currently reside in the bottom half of the table after a difficult start to the 2024-25 Isthmian Premier season. Having registered three wins, one draw, and six defeats, the Gulls sit 16th on 10 points; however, the Islanders do have a game in hand, playing one less than the maximum – ten. The opening few weeks of the campaign were tough for Canvey, they failed to pick up a single point in their opening four games. That being said, Brad Wellman’s side were beaten narrowly by a difference of one goal against Chichester and Hashtag, losing 2-1 consecutively, as well as Wingate and Finchley, 3-2.
Fortunately for Wellman, eventually the Gulls received their just deserts when the winless run ended following an August Bank Holiday 2-1 victory over Bowers and Pitsea. The Islanders sealed back-to-back wins, progressing through the FA Cup 1st Qualifying Round after dispatching Milton Keyes Irish. However, they returned to old habits and failed to capitalise on the momentum garnered, falling to a slender 3-2 defeat with Dulwich Hamlet. Again, it was plain for all to see that Canvey were not getting thumped, Wellman’s men were very much in games, but could not, for whatever reason, get results.
More FA Cup joy ensued, overcoming Felixstowe and Walton United 2-0 in the 2nd Qualifying Round, while a convincing 3-1 Chatham Town league victory followed. Even though Biggleswade would knock the Gulls out of the FA Cup soon after, since then the Islanders have gone three unbeaten, winning 2-1 versus Malden and Tiptree and Bognor, while being involved in an eight-goal thriller with Cray Valley which concluded 4-4. Therefore, what is perhaps most pleasing for Wellman is that Canvey have finally put together a consistent run of form.
Despite finishing 14th last season, which in itself is not easy given the quality of the Premier Division and was only two below the Robins, it was a fall from grace in the context of the two campaigns prior. The Islanders clinched promotion to step 3 in the most dramatic fashion in 21/22 following a Play-Off Final with Brentwood Town that went down to the wire at Park Lane. Goalless after 90 minutes, it would go all the way to penalties where Canvey would edge their counterparts 4-1 from the spot. It looked as though the Gulls would seal back-to-back promotions when they clinched third place and play-offs at the first time of asking in the top tier of Isthmian football; however, Aveley quashed their dreams in the semi-final with a 4-2 win on penalties.
Likely line-ups
Carshalton Athletic
Foley, Sankoh, Atewologun, Hamstead, Read, Saraiva, Vose, Bradford, Ifeanyi, Cook, Frimpong
Canvey Island
Mason, Yates, Stephen, Wallace, Hart, Parsons, Ronto, Hubble, Harris, Brown, Sach
Team News
Carshalton Athletic
New signing Luke Cook made an immediate first start in red Saturday, the former Sheffield Wednesday striker will be a common fixture in Adeniyi’s starting XI. What’s more, Kwaku Frimpong was introduced to proceedings for the second half against the Dons, the winger could have done enough to start on the right wing ahead of Darnell Goather-Braithwaite. Neither Tom Stagg, Tom Jackson, or Steve Gody made the bench at the weekend, whether they do mid-week remains to be seen.
Canvey Island
Bradley Sach made only his second start of his second tenure for the Gulls against Bognor Regis, despite scoring an own goal, he will likely maintain his spot. Substitute Finlay Dorrell grabbed the winner in the Bognor victory, Dorell will be competing with Sach for a starting spot.
Pre-Match Analysis
Carshalton will have to be particularly wary of the Gulls’ dangerous wing play which – following sustained early pressure from Bognor – opened up the visitor’s backline and granted them an avenue to settle into the match. It was an inch-perfect Matt Yates cross that enabled Chris Harris, rising highest, to direct the header past Ryan Hall in the Bognor goal.
Key Player
Jaxon Brown is Canvey’s top scorer, tied with Dorrell, both having netted four times. Brown grabbed a brace in the 4-4 stalemate with Cray Valley at the beginning of October. Matt Yates, meanwhile, is also a dangerman given the threat posed by the winger’s deliveries into the penalty area.
The Gaffer
Brad Wellman joined Canvey Island in the summer of 2013 following a 16-year stint in America with Major League Soccer side Chicago Fire. In November 2013, Wellman was rewarded for the fruits of his labour when he was appointed as Gulls assistant manager. After four years in the role, the boyhood Islander was bestowed stewardship of the club and defied expectations by securing immediate promotion from step 4, as well as flirting with the National League South in the following campaign.
Match Details
Date: Tuesday, October 22, 2024
Venue: The Steve Taxi’s Stadium
Kickoff: 07:45 PM
Admission: Admission: £12 (Adults), £8 (Concessions/Student with valid ID), £3 (U16’s accompanied by an adult).
Tickets: Online Tickets here
