Canvey Island 5 Ware 1
16 November 2011
WARE gifted Canvey Island five goals on a silver platter as some shambolic defending resulted in the visitors being dumped out of the Alan Boon Cup on Tuesday evening.
On-loan Kyle Asante netted what could turn out to be the easiest hat-trick of his career as he capitalised on schoolboy mistakes at the back from a Ware outfit that, to their credit, caused the hosts all manner of problems in the first half.
A combination of injuries and suspensions meant boss Stuart Nethercott was once again forced to shuffle his pack.
Michael Elliott returned to the starting line-up at centre-half in place of rested talisman Dave Bastian, while Danny Hayes and Harry Larner came into the midfield.
Canvey struggled to cope with the fast tempo at which the visitors started the match.
This was illustrated when Ware found the net on the 10-minute mark, only to be denied by an off-side flag. Following a cross by Aime Blessing, Harry Larner’s shot was blocked, but Junior Adeoye was adjudged to have been off-side when he netted from the rebound.
A minute later, Canvey conjured a goal on the counter-attack. Alex Rhodes floated in a cross from the left which was not dealt with by the visiting defenders, with Jay Curran able to fire home at the back post.
Ware caught Canvey unawares on 17 minutes in what proved to be a golden chance that went to waste. With the linesman flagging to indicate Tony Martin being in an off-side position, the big striker left the ball for the onrushing Mark Teasdale to surge down the right wing and send in a cross, but Junior Adeoye glanced a free header wide of the back stick.
Canvey must have thought Christmas had arrived a month and 10 days early when Ware defender Michael Elliott totally missed the ball inside his own six yard box when attempting to clear it with his left foot, allowing Kyle Asante to score from close range on 21 minutes.
Ware refused to lie down and when Martin went surging through one-on-one with the goalkeeper, it looked like they were set to reduce the arrears. However, the front man pulled the trigger took quickly and could only muster a tame effort that was easy for keeper Andre Foster to collect.
Aime Blessing showed Martin how to do it on the half-hour mark as Michael Elliott sent him racing clear of the last defender, the winger slotting comfortably past the committed Foster to make it 2-1.
Canvey had a goal ruled out for off-side on 37 minutes as Ware again struggled to cope at the back.
Canvey nicked a third goal almost three minutes into first half stoppage time to give the scoreline a flattering look going into the interval. Alex Rhodes netted at the back post after a cross was sent in from the left.
Curran should have scored five minutes into the second half, but the Canvey forward blazed over the bar with the goal gaping.
Rhodes later nodded over the top following Danny Kerrigan’s cross as Canvey began to have more of the possession.
Ware keeper Rhys Madden made an excellent right-handed save to deny Rhodes on 69 minutes after seeing the ball late.
Both Mark Teasdale and Danny Hayes were forced off with minor injuries three minutes apart, while the visitors had Wesley Beckles to thank for maintaining an element of solidity and professionalism at the back as the game went on.
Generous Antony Lane gifted the hosts two further chances in the closing stages, both of which the Gulls took.
Leon Gordon’s 82nd minute cross from the right was totally missed by Lane at the near post, leaving Asante with a simple tap-in from close range.
Then on 87 minutes, Lane sold short a back-pass to Madden, and despite the best efforts of the keeper, Asante completed his hat-trick.
The result brought an end to Ware’s interest in all cup competitions for the season, leaving them free to focus on climbing the league table.
Ware: Rhys Madden, Mark Teasdale (sub: Tom Querry, 72), Antony Lane, Harry Larner, Wesley Beckles, Michael Elliott, Danny Hayes (sub: Dave Bastian, 75), Dan Johnson, Tony Martin, Junior Adeoye, Aime Blessing. Sub not used: Stuart Nethercott.
