26 August 2015 Grays Athletic v Canvey Island FC Rymans League Premier Division

Posted on August 28, 2015 by Spen

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So,  just over 4 days after my previous visit, I found myself at Millfield once again to watch the lodgers Grays Athletic host Essex Rivals in another Essex derby. Its been a while since I have seen Aveley play at home. I think my last 4 or 5 visits have all been to see Grays Athletic play.

On arriving at the ground, it was difficult to find a parking space even though I arrived around 40 minutes before kick off. On Saturday I arrived just before kick off and had no problems parking. This pointed towards a good crowd I thought.

I got in the ground and it certainly seemed livelier than on Saturday. When the nearby clubhouse empties, there must be a good crowd I thought. Looking around as the teams came out I realised that I was mistaken. The crowd was not much higher than Saturday which was disappointing. Its not so long ago both these sides were playing at a higher level. Indeed its not so long ago that Grays won the FA Trophy at Wembley. The official attendance on Saturday was 263 compared with 289 tonight.

Games under floodlights always have a different atmosphere to Saturday night games and this was no exception.

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At least there was some banter between the two fans tonight. Canvey Island has a reputation as being home to lots of mobile homes. Que chants of “The wheels on your house go round and round” from Grays fans. Followed by chants of

Canvey fans retorted with chants of “we all live in a yellow caravan” and to Grays who are lodgers at Millfield “The rent on your ground goes up and up”

Amongst the crowd was a regular Essex ground hopper Dan Wilson who is a fantastic source of information on football in Essex on twitter @essexfootie . He is worth a follow. There is not much about football in Essex he doesn’t know.

The game itself was played on a pitch that was not as hard or bobbly as on Saturday, due in part to the heavy rain earlier in the day. Grays started the game by far the better and had numerous chances, including hitting the post in the first couple of minutes. Canvey did have a number of chances but Grays dominated the first half despite seeming to try to avoid scoring a goal. In some respects the first half was almost the opposite of Saturday for Grays when they were second best for most of the first half.

The second half started with Canvey upping their game, and indeed for the first 25 or so minutes of the half it was predominantly Canvey Island who looked like scoring. Then on 74 minutes, somewhat against the run of play. The goal was a bit of a comedy of errors, a cross from the Grays right was missed by the Grays centre forward, it was a reak chance wasted. Grays retrieved lose ball on the left and a cross put in that was punched badly by the keeper straight to a Grays play who somehow made it look difficult to put it into the gaping goal.

This goal seemed to hit Canvey hard and they never recovered and Grays had far more of the last 16 minutes. This culminated with a screamer of a goal for Grays to make it 2-0 and game over. However, that screamer of a goal was scored by Glen Poole, who now plays for Canvey. Yes, it was an own goal! What made it even sweater for the Grays faithful was that Pool was an ex Grays player. Que chants of “One of Us, Glen Poole is one of us”.

That was the end of the scoring, and another 2-0 ground win out by Grays. They are starting to look like a side that will be in contention for a playoff play at the very least this season. As for Canvey, they are not a million miles away from being able to compete towards the top of the table if this performance is anything to go by- well in the 2nd half at any rate.

Admission £10

Programme £2

Car Parking £Free

Refreshments – Not purchased – after Monday night, I brought a can of pop with me!

                     
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							About Spen							

							I'm a 50 something football fan and occasional cyclist.

I've been a football fanatic most of my life and have completed the 92 football league & premier league grounds previously. I have 1 left to rejoin the 92 club.  Added to this numerous non league grounds, a number abroad and you start to get the picture.

I took up cycling in around 2000. Although my father was a former World Vets Champion, I got into cycling accompanying my son to ride in London. This was followed by my commuting to work each day into Central London. Then doing some Sunday rides, then some audax events (www.audax.uk.net) and then a week's cycling holiday in France with a friend. From there, I got more and more into cycling and in 2009 completed LEJoG and in 2010 rode in the USA with the Police Unity Tour. I completed blogs for those events at www.aminearlythere.blogspot.com and www.bothesidesofthepond.blogspot.com Feel free to read them and learn more about me. I now am one of the organising committee for the UK Police Unity Tour (www.ukpoliceunitytour.org )

I live alone which suits me as it gives me time at weekends to pursue my interests of cycling and football. (Well what did you expect me to say? That I'm sad at being single?)

I'm currently looking for my next challenge. Any suggestions gratefully received.							
						

					


						

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