Aveley 1, Canvey Island 6

INEFFECTUAL Aveley were brushed aside by their Essex neighbours in what turned out to be a humiliating Ryman Division One North experience for Dave Spittle's young side.

They were literally out manoeuvred in every department by Canvey who dominated from start to finish to delight a small army of travelling fans.

The Islanders were ahead after just 12 minutes when prolific striker Nicky Rugg was on hand to strike home the first of a hat-trick, his well-placed shot coming from just inside the box after an effort from Colin wall had been blocked.

Canvey suffered a blow seven minutes later when they lost experienced keeper Mel Capleton to a hamstring injury, Ricky Wiseman coming on to replace him.

The young keeper was rarely troubled as Canvey controlled the game and it was real surprise when they extended their lead moments before the break, though there was a touch of luck about the goal.

Canvey played the ball wide on the left for Chris Bourne whose low cross bobbled through a melee of players and caught Canvey's Ian Luck wrong-footed. He tried to adjust his stance but the ball struck him and bounced into the back of the net, wrong-footing home keeper Ronnie Worster.

It was a tough goal to concede but no more than Canvey deserved.

Home boss Dave Spittle has spent two of his side's last three half times talking to his side about defending a two goal lead.

Now the boot was on the other foot but in a strange paradox his side didn't have the answer when the equation was the other way around.

Unlike Hendon or Maldon, who battled back from a deficit to overhaul the Millers, Spittle's inexperienced side were unable to raise their game.

They desperately craved inspiration from somewhere and it might have come from Ryan Imbert early in the second half when he found himself clear with plenty of time and space and only Wiseman to beat.

However, he tamely stroked the ball straight into the keeper's grateful arms and worse was to follow within a matter of seconds as Canvey swiftly moved the ball to the other end of the pitch where Gabriel Fanibuyan flicked in a short cross and Glen Golby knocked the ball into his own net.

If that wasn't game, set and match to the visitors the result was confirmed soon after when after a goalmouth scramble when Aveley spurned several chances to clear their lines, Fanibuyan prodded the ball over for his side's fourth.

Soon after Luck was been denied one of the most obvious penalties you'll ever see when referee Mar Patterson bizarrely waved play on after he was pole-axed from behind. Perhaps he felt sorry for Aveley who made the most of that stroke of fortune by scoring!

Canvey were certainly guilty of taking their foot of the gas and lax defending as they allowed the ball to break to Jareau Mccarthy whose low shot struck the foot of the post, rebounding to Imbert who showed great poise to react and drill the ball past Wiseman.

That was no more than a consolation and in the closing moments Rugg got his second from close range. That set Canvey fans off on a tango of celebration but they handn't completed their circuit of the ground before there was another goal to cheer, Rugg proving another sharp close range finish to complete his hat-trick and round off a very good day for the Islanders - but one that Millers will need to forget in a hurry.

Ryman Division One North, up to and inc Sat, Sept 29

P W D L F A +/- Pts 1 AFC Sudbury 9 6 1 2 26 7 +19 19 2 Brentwood Town 7 5 2 0 15 6 +9 17 3 Edgware Town 7 5 1 1 13 4 +9 16 4 Bury Town 8 4 3 1 15 9 +6 15 5 Canvey Island 8 4 2 2 17 7 +10 14 6 Dartford 7 4 1 2 13 9 +4 13 7 Maldon Town 7 3 4 0 12 9 +3 13 8 Arlesey Town 8 3 3 2 13 11 +2 12 9 Waltham Abbey 8 3 3 2 10 9 +1 12 10 Enfield Town 7 3 2 2 13 9 +4 11 11 Ware 7 3 2 2 15 12 +3 11 12 Redbridge 9 2 5 2 13 12 +1 11 13 Tilbury 7 2 4 1 11 9 +2 10 14 Waltham Forest 8 1 6 1 8 9 -1 9 15 Great Wakering Rovers 8 2 2 4 12 13 -1 8 16 Northwood 8 2 2 4 11 16 -5 8 17 Aveley 8 2 2 4 7 18 -11 8 18 Wingate & Finchley 8 1 4 3 8 13 -5 7 19 Witham Town 8 1 3 4 15 19 -4 6 20 Potters Bar Town 7 1 3 3 7 13 -6 6 21 Ilford 8 0 1 7 3 22 -19 1 22 Wivenhoe Town 8 0 0 8 3 24 -21 0