Canvey Island  2-1  East Thurrock United

Billericay Town  0-1  Chelmsford City

Redbridge  v  Brentwood Town – POSTPONED

Northampton Town  3-1  Dagenham & Redbridge

Southend United  0-1  Gillingham

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FULL TIME:  And it turned out to be a good game after all.  Just a disappointing result.  The Rocks shaded the first half but Canvey dominated the second and deserved the win.  East Thurrock United tried, but they were just up against a better team.  Ah well.

Next up, weather permitting, should be Brentwood Town at the Arena on Saturday,  Until then, Happy New Year.

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Injury Time  And Chelmsford take the lead at Billericay.  Currently, Brentwood have done best out of all of our local league and non-league sides by virtue of not playing.  The man of the match announcement has been met with chortles.  Hurrah!

87th min – We’ve been asked for the Canvey man of the match here in the press box.  Although he’s been on for less than half an hour, Harrison Chatting is the man who’s made the difference in this game.

84th min – A Canvey free kick on the left hand edge of the area, a mix-up, but Ashley Dumas takes control of the hash of it, runs inside the left of the area, and shoots into the side netting.  Meanwhile, Meuga and Parmenter go off for Burgess and Mason for Covo’s boys.

83rd min – Elliott Justham keeps East Thurrock United in it with a brilliant point blank save from Canvey sub and ex Billericay man Harrison Chatting.  All Gulls at the moment.  Bah.

81st min – And the home side attack again, this time Louis Dennis playing a 1-2 and then shooting from the edge of the area, which is comfortably saved.

76th min – The Canvey fans are in much better voice as the Rocks have been on the back foot.  Another Gulls free-kick goes harmlessly over the bar, but it seems as if Canvey are now finding success down the flanks.  Time is ticking away for injury ravaged East Thurrock to rescue this.

71st min – GOAL! ….. CANVEY ISLAND 2,  East Thurrock United 1  A real New Year cracker of a goal, too.  A throw-in finds BRADLEY WOODS-GARNESS, almost at the byeline on the right hand edge of the area, and he somehow hammers it over himself and it hits the roof of the net at the far post.

Liquid football, it has to be said.

67th min – GOAL! ….. CANVEY ISLAND 1,  East Thurrock United 1  Nice Gulls move down the left, a low, swerving, venomously quick centre goes into the six yard box, SIMON PEDDIE has to try to deal with it, but only succeeds in levelling matters.

The last period of this game could be a good ‘un.

65th min – Speaking of darts, L’Heureux Meuga and Kevin Dobbinson tryto re-enact Sunday’s fun, with the Rocks forward putting the Gulls midfielder into a headlock, which he understandably reacted to.  It really should be at least a red for Meuga but the ref didn’t see it, and after consulting his linesman, tells them off like naughty schoolkids.

61st min – Not much going on elsewhere.  No reports of any excitement, let alone goals, at Billericay.  Dagenham are losing again though.  But at least it’s darts tonight.  The unrivalled spectacle of two old fat blokes trying to start a fight and failing miserably, on Sunday night, made my festive season.  Who needs Haye v Klitschko when you can have Taylor v Barneveld.  Chortle.

56th min – And ow, that was so close to a Gulls equaliser!  A ball over the top finds Bradley Woods-Garness bearing down on the East Thurrock United goal, completely unmarked.  He fires in a curling shot but it’s superbly parried away by Elliott Justham.  Phew.

54th min – Oh, so close for the Rocks!  A corner on the right, from Tom Stephen, yet another scramble in the six yard box, L’Heireux Meuga appears to have scored from point-blank range, but the ref whistles for an infringment on keeper Jones.  Drat.  And double drat.

51st min – And a nice little jink from Louis Dennis on the left gives him space and time to find Ashley Dumas inside the area.  The Rocks shepherd him away but at last signs of Canvey danger.  Crumbs.

49th min – And already the hosts have started livelier than at any point in the first half.  A volley that whistles over the bar and an easily defended corner doesn’t sound like much, but it’s about 100% more than the home side produced in the first 45 minutes.

4.04pm – KICK OFF!  Again, you know.

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HALF TIME:  At long last, a goal, and suddenly it’s livened up.  After 35+ minutes of  nothingness, pots of fun right up the break.  The Rocks probably deserve the lead, having more chances, or at least forcing more corners.  The second half might just be a cracker.

Right, off for a Bovril and a curry.  Laters.

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Injury timne – And almost a Canvey equaliser.  Play switches downfield, there’s a throw-in on the right, which evades the Rocks defence.  James Hawes looks a certain scorer inside the box, just to the left of goal, but his shot flashes wide past the far post.  Blimey.

44th min – Wow, unbelievably close to the Rocks doubling their lead in the most bizarre way possible.  A terrible mistake on the edge of the Canvey penalty area sees the host goalie actually slice his kick behind him, almost presenting Meuga with an open goal.  Keeper Jones, however, races back towards goal, though, and hacks the ball clear to atone for his error.  My goodness me.

38th min – GOAL! ….. Canvey Island 0,  EAST THURROCK UNITED 1  Oh yes!  Kye Ruel finds space on the right, he centres it low into the edge of the six yard box, and SAM COLLINS slots home with a low shot.

Liquid football!

36th min – A few retired cockneys are evidently at the game.  East Thurrock players appeal for a free kick, to be met with a “Shaaaaaaaaaadup” from one spectator.  They had Chas & Dave on the PA before the game too.

31st min – Ooh, signs of life.  Kye Ruel on the left gets to the byeline inside the Canvey area, but his centre goes straight to a defender.  Reiss Gilbey intercepts on the edge of the box, though, and his shot is deflected for a corner.  Again there’s a moment of panic, but Jones in the end punches clear.

27th min – Should have done a mid 1st half audio report by now, but bar the moment of panic in the 2nd minute, there’s been nothing of note to chat about.  Although in the stand opposite, there’s an advert for a company that would be a great name for a bacon snack.  Oikos.

22nd min – L’Heureux Meuga is spoken to by the ref for a clumsy tackle on the halfway line.  The free kick comes to nothing.  My worry is, though, is how is it pronounced if he scores?

18th min – A half hearted attempt to get a ‘Come on Canvey’ chant going falls flat.  I think it’s more to do with New Year hangovers rather than lack of enthusiasm.  Plenty of effort from both sides but very little creativity thus far.

14th min – Nice little run and cross on the right by Louis Dennis, it goes out to the edge of the area.  There’s a Canvey appeal for a foul on Kevin Dobinson, but the ref waves the appeal away, and the attack ends with a header going harmlessly over Elliott Justham’s bar.

11th min – Both sides just settling down now.  A couple of home forays to the edge of the Rocks area, and a decent wide run or two from East Thurrock, but nothing clear-cut created.

6th min – Certainly in the minority in the press box.  The local paper scribe is an avowed Canvey fan.  Hmmm.  Elsewhere, Southend United have been beaten at home to League Two leaders Gillingham.  After their Boxing Day romp it hasn’t gone well for them.  Haven’t missed much here

2nd min – Ooh, almost a great start for the Rocks.  A corner is forced on the right, and I’m guessing the sun was in Canvey custodian Ashlee Jones’s eyes, as there was a bit of a flap in the six yard box.  There was panic for a second, and a crack at goal, but it’s eventually cleared.

3.01pm – KICK OFF!  Oh yes!

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2.58pm – The teams come out to a quiet, hungover reception.  Although Covo’s better half Chris knocked on the glass cheerily and wished me a Happy New Year.  Very nice.  Ooh, I feel chuffed already.

2.55pm – The teams are in the tunnel, the Rocks in their black and white striped away kit, Canvey in yellow shirts and blue shorts.

2.50pm – The Gulls media / pa man Glen is having problems today with the music system and mic.  My offer of a lend of the ‘Hearts, Hearts, Glorious Hearts’ cd as the teams come out has for some reason been turned down.  Harumph.

2.45pm – A lovely day here at Park Lane.  Bright sunshine with the old cloud.  Not a drop of wind.  Perfect football conditions.  Though with Covo’s visit to the curry house last night, he may spend more time in the clubhouse wc’s that in the dugout.  Why do unfortunate things happen to good people.  I’m not sure why.  But chortle.

2.40pm – Team News:  Canvey Island bid to beat the Rocks with:  1. – Ashlee Jones.  2. – Ashley Miller.  3. – Ashley Dumas.  4. – Rob King (c).  5. – Ricky Hayles.  6. – Richard Orlu.  7. – Nicolas Bondon.  8. – Kevin Dobinson.  9. – Bradley Woods-Garness.  10. – Louis Dennis.  11. – James Hawes.  SUBS:  12. – Harrison Chatting.  14. – Robbie Blackwell.  15. – Mitch Gilbey.  16. – Danny Heale.  21. – Tommy Glanville.

So the Gilbey brothers come face to face at long last.  I still remember their other brother Lennox in Only Fools & Horses at that supermarket.

2.35pm – Team News:  East Thurrock United will try to gub the Gulls with:

1. – Elliott Justham

2. – Ryan Sammons

3. – Tom Stephen

4. – Simon Peddie

5. – David Obaze

6. – Ross Parmenter

7. – James Lawson

8. – Reiss Gilbey (c)

9. – L’Heureux Meuga

10. – Kye Ruel

11. – Sam Collins

Subs:

12. – Liam Burgess

14. – Dean Mason

15 – Matt Pouley

16. – Spencer Harrison

17. – Joe Keith

An interesting mix of seasoned pro’s and new signings.  Just what you need on a day like today.

2.30pm – Elsewhere, Billericay Town, after their desperately dour and disappointing loss at Hornchurch over the weekend, need a win against a strong Chelmsford City outfit to harbour any hopes of a play-off bid.

At first glance you’d say Brentwood Town’s play-off chances in Ryman One North are remote.  In 13th and 11 points from that coveted top five slot.  With today’s postponement, though, they will have at least 4, and up to 9 games in hand, on every team in the division.  Despite today’s no-show, they have a real shot at it.

Apologies for today’s live coverage not coming from either game.  It’s a combination of accessibility to matches, and more pertinently, being almost broke.  It’s taken an extremely cheap train fare, and then a four mile trudge, to just get me here, let alone further afield.

The things I do to bring you such jolly japes.  Oh, and no New Year’s Eve party either.  Simply couldn’t afford to go out or taxi fares.  I’m the Oliver Twist of the non-league scene, you know.

2.25pm – A very good afternoon from Park Lane, the home of Steve Tilson’s Gulls of Canvey Island, where East Thurrock United face a tricky task to get 2013 off to a positive start.

It’s been a season of swimming in treacle for Covo’s side so far.  The early season run of six straight wins and that unforgettable FA Cup battle with Chelmsford City seems such a long time ago.  It’s been a case of digging out decent results away but inconsistency at home.  Whilst in no relegation danger, a climb up the Ryman Premier table seems a tough one.

As for the hosts, they will be smarting from an embarrassing Boxing Day derby defeat at Concord Rangers and determined to get their play-off bid back on track.  With the Rocks away form holding up, however, hopes are there that the Rookery Hill outfit can spring more festive humbug upon the hosts.  This could be a cracker.

You know what to do.  Refresh the page every few minutes and all the fun of the New Year’s Day football fair will be yours.

GAME ON!