Optimistic for the rest of the season – Canvey Island’s Joe Paxman (Image: Nicky Hayes)
Canvey Island forward Joe Paxman believes the Gulls can still push for the play-offs but admits their inconsistency has hindered their progress.
Brad Wellman’s side currently sit in 13th place in the Isthmian Premier Division, 11 points off of the play-off places.
Paxman assesses their current predicament.
“This season has been a very up and down, inconsistent one for us,” he admitted.
“In terms of results and performances, I think our position in the league sums that up for us.
“We have had some really positive results but just haven’t built upon them and gone on a winning streak.
“I do think injuries have played a big part in our season but we can’t use that as an excuse.”
The Gulls recently secured a 3-0 victory over Billericay Town with Sam Higgins netting a brace and Tobi Tinubu also getting on the scoresheet.
Paxman thinks results like this show why Canvey can compete at the top of the table.
“With our results and performances against some of the top teams like Billericay, Hastings United and Chatham Town earlier in the season, we know what we are capable of,” he said.
“We can definitely compete at the top of the table.
“We just need to find that consistency to keep picking up points regardless of the opposition and who knows where that could take us, there’s still a lot of points to pick up.”
The Gulls make the trip to Cray Wanderers this evening as they look to bounce back from Saturday’s 3-2 defeat at Margate.
Paxman knows it is important to get results against teams in and around them in the table.
“Every game is important for us and we want to finish the season strong,” the ex-Grays Athletic man stated.
“Saturday’s result was very deflating but we can’t dwell on it and have to shift our full focus onto Cray.
“It’s important we get a positive result and create a gap between us and them in the table.
“It will be a tough game, like every game in this league but like I said, we are more than capable of getting the result we need against them.”
Canvey had an impressive season in their return to the Isthmian Premier Divison last term, finishing in third place.
Paxman admits it was difficult to try and recover from losing to Aveley in the play-off semi-final on penalties.
“The way things finished last season was absolutely gutting and I think we were so unlucky to not win the league,” he believes.
“But we can all be proud of what we achieved and the season we had.
“Our first season back in the Isthmian Premier Division, competing with some huge clubs with huge budgets and just missing out on penalties.
“It was a very bitter end to the season but each individual in that team can be proud of what they achieved that season and it will always be one to remember.”
Paxman is remaining optimistic for the remaining months of the campaign as Canvey look to make a late dash into the play-offs.
“We are hoping to finish this season strong and make a last-minute push for the play-offs,” he said.
“With the squad we have and players coming back from injury, it’s something that can definitely be achieved.
“But we will take it one game at a time and see how things look.
“It seems every season, one team finds form and makes a last-minute play-off place and who knows, that could be us this season!”
