Not quite Fantasy Island for Edgware

'Fantasy Island' No Steve & Del jokes please!

'Essex Bird'

A crowd of 324 watched the action at Canvey's 'Park Lane' Stadium (Click picture for Panoramic view)

Gabriel Fanibuyan Canvey's MOTM

Action from this afternoon's match in Essex

Ryman Football League Division 1 North

Canvey Island 1 (Curran, 12)

Edgware Town 1 (Ngoyi 30)

Attendance 324

Edgware broke their goalscoring duck with their first strike of the new year, however the Wares remain winless in 2008, having left Canvey Island with a point in a competitive 1-1 draw in front Canvey's biggest gate of the season.

The 'Gulls' started the match at breakneck speed and took a 12th minute lead after Gabriel Fanibuyan's cross from the right found Jay Curran who nettted from close range, to give the 'Yellow's the advantage.

Edgware began to ease themselves into the match, with Adam Wallace and Greg Ngoyi proving to be a handful for the home defence.

Canvey's keeper Mel Capleton appeared to pull up with a muscle strain and on the half hour mark was unable to stop Ngoyi's strike after the Wares striker had run on to a through ball finishing with panache to net Edgware's first goal in 2008.

Moments after the equaliser, Caplet had to come off, and without a reserve keeper on the bench, 'Gulls' defender Andew West deputised between the sticks with an hour of the match still remaining.

Rob Blackburne in the Wares goal was putting in a superlative performance as he denied Canvey on a number of occasions throughout the match, with the impressive Fanibuyan causing problems all afternoon along the right flank, showing Gavin Hart a clean pair of heels on a number of occasions.

There was to be no further scoring as Edgware were unable to put pressure on West in the Canvey goal, Wallace and Ngoyi coming closest, although the 'keeper' was never really called upon to make a save of real note.

The home side pushed forward and forced a number of corners in an attempt to win the match and with just 4 minutes remaining the 'Gulls' found the net from such a set piece; however much to Edgware's relief Nicky Rugg's header was cancelled out as the referee adjudged a push had taken place on Blackburne in the Edgware goalmouth.

Edgware settled for the draw their twelfth of the campaign; the 1 point gained means the Wares remain in 4th place on 48 points, only Goal Difference separating the four teams that occupy the play off positions, trailing leaders Dartford who have a 4 point lead.

Edgware are next in action on Tuesday when they host RL1N rivals Northwood in a Middlesex Senior Cup quarter final.

Maldon Town provide the opposition in a league encounter at the White Lion Ground on Saturday

Match Rating 3 out of 5

MOTM Rob Blackburne made some excllent saves that earned the Wares a point.

More photos can be found here

http://s192.photobucket.com/albums/z226/CanveyIslandFC/Edgware%20H%20-%20David%20Sargant/