Hard fought battle (From Thurrock Gazette)

Woods-Garness sinks Fleet

9:53am Friday 18th January 2013 in Sport

Canvey Island 2

Thurrock 0

RYMAN PREM: GULLS’ Bradley Woods-Garness scored a brace to hobble Thurrock and send his team into the play-off places, writes James Colasanti.

But the hard-fought victory over visiting Thurrock showed Fleet’s determination and drive.

The striker scored in either half.

But Fleet had their chances and perhaps should have gone ahead early on. Only a terrific double save from Ashlee Jones stopped Thurrock taking an 11th minute lead. First he got down low to get a hand to Danny Green’s side-foot from the edge of the box, and when Green followed up the Gulls keeper made an excellent reflex stop from close range.

Canvey’s first sight of goal came in the 19th minute when Rob King blazed over. But a minute later they were in front as Ashley Dumas set up Woods-Garness to slot the ball instinctively inside the post for his 14th goal of the season.

It was hard on Fleet, who had played well and went close late in the half when right back Darren Ebsworth made an over-lapping run but flashed a shot wide from 20 yards.

It was a shot-shy opening to the second half until Jay Curran muscled himself some space in the penalty area and drew a good low save from David Hughes on 70 minutes.

Then Fleet went very close as Robbie Norris hit a shot which skidded off the top of the crossbar a minute later.

But the Gulls scored their killer second a minute after that as Woods-Garness turned the ball home from close-range following a wicked, whipped delivery from Ashley Dumas.

And Woods-Garness went close to his hat-trick with seven minutes to go when he took Kevin Dobinson’s pass in stride and fired into the side netting.

Canvey (4-4-2): Jones; Miller, Orlu, Hayles, Bondon; Curran, King, Dobinson, Dumas; Woods-Garness (Blackwell 85), Dennis (Chatting 68).

Thurrock (4-4-2): Hughes; Jones, Guest, Jeffries, Ebsworth; Wanadio (Paxman 67), Thurgood, Norris, Green; Stimson (Imbert 78), Honesty (Cook 78).Gazette MOM: Woods-Garness.