Match Preview - Canvey Island (H)

So here it is, the final game of the 2024/25 season. It has been a rollercoaster of a campaign, with almost as many defeats as victories, sitting as high as 2nd place at one point, and as low as 16th at another. All in all, there have been lots of positives to take, and optimism to carry forward into the 2025/26 season. Saturday's visitors are Canvey Island, a team that we faced all the way back in August, and a team that have had a tricky season themselves.

Our Opponents

Canvey Island have a history dating back 99 years, to their formation in 1926. In more recent history, at the turn of the 21st Century, they had a run of seasons pushing for promotion to the Conference, eventually earning promotion as champions of the Isthmian Premier in 2003/04. After two seasons at that level, the club took voluntary demotion to the Isthmian North, where they stayed for a couple of years before playoff victory in 2007/08 saw them back into the Isthmian Premier. They stayed at this level for a while before relegation to the Isthmian North in 2016/17. Their most recent return came in 2021/22, as runners up in the Isthmian North they went into the playoffs where they beat Felixstowe & Walton 3-1 and then Brentwood Town on penalties in the final.

Canvey Island ended last season in 14th position, taking 54 points from their 42 matches, and generally spending the majority of the season in and around the mid-table positions. In the previous season, The Islanders had an excellent campaign, finishing in 3rd place with 80 points, losing to Aveley on penalties in the semi-finals of the playoffs.

The current season has fallen below last season's achievement, and probably below expectations at the Islanders. Canvey have 43 points from 41 games (W13 D4 L24), and are sat in 17th place, just two places ahead of Hendon in the final relegation spot, but with a seven point gap, they are assured of their place in Step 3 next season. However, one very bright point in the season was the Islanders' Essex Senior Cup win, beating Hornchurch on penalties back in March to take their first Senior Cup win in 13 years.

Head To Head

Last season the Blues managed to secure the double over Canvey Island, with a memorable 6-2 win over Canvey at the Maurice Rebak Stadium in October. There were braces for Chukwu, Long and Carvalho as a second half blitz meant that we turned it around from 2-1 down at 49 minutes to take the game 6-2. The away game last season was in March 2024, as we scored twice in the second half (Chukwu and Carvalho again) to take the game 2-0, despite going down to ten men late in the day.

This season's game at the Steve Taxis Stadium was another thriller; Canvey taking an early lead before Destiny Oladipo levelled on the stroke of half time. The hosts again took the lead, but Luke Deslandes levelled before Oladipo scored again in the 94th minute to steal all three points and seal a 3-2 win on August Bank Holiday.

Last Time Out

It has been a fairly low-key end to the season for Canvey, as their gap to the relegation zone has meant that they were likely to be safe. In April, the Islanders have lost three and won one; beating relegated Hastings United 1-0 but losing to title-contenders Horsham (1-0) and Billericay (3-0) and also losing to fellow strugglers Dulwich Hamlet (2-1).

For the Blues, it has been a mixed end to the season too, with one win (4-1 over Bognor Regis), one draw (0-0 at Lewes) and two defeats (3-1 to Cheshunt and 4-1 to Cray Wanderers) in April so far. Ahmet Rifat will be looking to finish the season on a high with a strong performance on Saturday, the Blues can't finish any lower than our current 11th place but could leapfrog Cray Wanderers into 10th place with a victory on Saturday.

Players To Watch

Canvey Island's top goalscorer this season is Chris Harris with 12 goals in all competitions. The centre forward signed from Sittingbourne in the summer, having previously played for Bishop's Stortford and Cheshunt, including being a part of the Bishop's Stortford side that was promoted from the Isthmian Premier in 2022/23. Another who impressed for the Islanders in the last couple of seasons was Bradley Sach (23 goals in 22/23 and 16 goals in 23/24 seasons) leading to him being signed by Chatham Town this season, but he was soon back at the Islanders and has bagged 8 goals this season, and will certainly be one to be wary of on Saturday.

For Wingate & Finchley, youngster Alex Osei scored his first goal for the club in our last game at the Maurice Rebak Stadium, a game in which fellow U18s player Myles Thomas also made his debut, both coming through the Blues youth set-up. With the game likely to come too soon for some of the injured players to return, there's a big chance that these two might get more game time this weekend.

Tickets can be purchase online or on the gate on matchday. Cash and card is accepted throughout the stadium. Please also note that there will be a thank you from the committee, a round-up of the season and the final award, the committee's player of the season, in the bar at the conclusion of the game so please join us for a drink to celebrate another successful season!

Photos courtesy of Martin Addison.