Canvey Island 3 Cray Wanderers 2
FA Cup Fourth Qualifying Round
I loved Canvey, parked at the ground around 1pm and had a fantastic blustery mile or so walk to the Labworth Cafe, an international style listed thirties building that is the seafront's main landmark. Had lunch there and walked back to ground taking in all the murals that cover the wall of the esplanade.
Park Lane has one massive stepped terrace behind one goal which affords far better views than is normal at this level (I presume it was constructed for their Conference years) and the far corner of it offered the most space for social distancing in the ground. However, it did expose one to the gale that was now blowing off the Thames Estuary and over the sea wall right behind one goal. A gale that was to play a major part in determining the result.
Playing with the wind at their backs, the home side were two up after ten minutes from the simple tactic of banging the ball forward early for their two pacy forwards to chase and force mistakes. A third came after twenty-two minutes from a long range shot that may have been wind assisted and the Wands struggle to create anything going forward with the ball constantly blowing back at them.
Predictably the second half was the reverse but Cray could only claim two goals back just after the hour mark and failed to equalise despite dominating the final twenty minutes plus.
FA Cup Fourth Qualifying Round
I loved Canvey, parked at the ground around 1pm and had a fantastic blustery mile or so walk to the Labworth Cafe, an international style listed thirties building that is the seafront's main landmark. Had lunch there and walked back to ground taking in all the murals that cover the wall of the esplanade.
Park Lane has one massive stepped terrace behind one goal which affords far better views than is normal at this level (I presume it was constructed for their Conference years) and the far corner of it offered the most space for social distancing in the ground. However, it did expose one to the gale that was now blowing off the Thames Estuary and over the sea wall right behind one goal. A gale that was to play a major part in determining the result.
Playing with the wind at their backs, the home side were two up after ten minutes from the simple tactic of banging the ball forward early for their two pacy forwards to chase and force mistakes. A third came after twenty-two minutes from a long range shot that may have been wind assisted and the Wands struggle to create anything going forward with the ball constantly blowing back at them.
Predictably the second half was the reverse but Cray could only claim two goals back just after the hour mark and failed to equalise despite dominating the final twenty minutes plus.
Comment