Match Preview: Canvey Island vs Bury Town
Date: Saturday 31st August 2019
Kick Off:3:00pm
Admission Prices: £10.00 Adults, £6.00 Concessions (over-60's, students with valid ID), £1.00 U16's

Programme: The matchday programme for this game can be downloaded HERE

Background:Bury Town travel to Canvey Island on Saturday with the Gulls having made a 100% start in the Isthmian North and the FA Cup with 4 wins from their opening 4 games. The Gulls had a disappointing season last term after losing in the play off final the year before, so manager Mark Bentley will be looking to take Canvey back to the Premier Division of the Isthmian League this season.
Bury will be high on confidence after their second half comeback against Cambridge City on bank holiday Monday which saw the Blues recover from 1-0 down to win 3-1 thanks to goals from Ryan Horne, Jarid Robson and Emmanuel Machaya.

Injury News: Captain Ollie Fenn is set to still miss out with an ankle injury picked up at Witham Town in the second game of the season, while Taylor Hastings could also be out after picking up a hamstring injury against Cambridge City. Ryan Jolland is also serving the final match of his three game suspension.

Last time out: Bury Town 1 Canvey Island 1 - Saturday 21st January 2019 - Attendance 311

Previous Meetings between the sides: The Blues and Canvey Island have met in 19 competitive fixtures.
Seven matches have been contested in the Isthmian Division One North, eleven matches have taken place in the Premier Division and one in the FA Cup. Bury currently have the advantage when it comes to head to head games, with 13 wins against the visitors today. Canvey have 4 victories to their name, and the sides have shared the points on one occasion. Neither side had met in a competitive fixture until the 2006-07 season. Bury won promotion to the Isthmian League Division One North, and Canvey Island asked for voluntary demotion from the Nationwide Conference after two seasons at the top level of the non league football. The first match between the sides took place at Park Lane, and despite Bury Town taking a 2-0 lead through Parker and Paynter, the home side hit back to share the spoils, the equalising goal coming in controversial circumstances from the spot late on. The return match at Ram Meadow saw Bury register their first ever win over the Gulls as goals from Owen Paynter, Sam Reed and James Tatham secured the points in front of 305. The following season saw the sides meet at Park Lane in the first fixture and despite falling behind, second half goals from Danny Cornwell and current defender Sam Nunn saw Bury take the points in front of 272.
The return match at Ram Meadow gave Bury a chance to complete the double, and they sneaked home with an 80th minute winner from Sam Reed. Bury were transferred to the Southern League Midland Division so the sides would not meet during the 2008-09 and 2009-10 season. At the end of the 2009-10 season, Bury collected the Southern League Midland Division championship, and were once again transferred between the Southern League and the Isthmian League, as the Football Association decided that the Premier Division of the Isthmian League was more geographically suited to Bury. With both sides back in the same division, an early season fixture at Park Lane resulted in Canvey’s only victory over Bury Town to date, and that was an emphatic 3-0 win in front of their own supporters.
The Blues did gain some revenge with a 2-1 victory at Ram Meadow in the return match, Sam Reed and Roscoe Hipperson finding the net in front of 440, Canvey’s consolation goal coming in the 89th minute of play. In season 2011-12 Bury again complete the double over the Gulls, with the first fixture coming at Park Lane. Bury took the lead late in the first half. Little had been seen of the Canvey attack, and it came as no surprise when Bury took the lead in the final minute of the half, when Cunningham fired a 20 yard free kick into the top corner giving Russell no chance. Canvey fought back in the second half, but the Bury defence with Bullard, Hipperson and Hunter outstanding, kept them at bay. Five minutes of stoppage time failed to produce an equaliser for the hosts as Bury held on for a hard fought victory at Park Lane.
The return match that season took place in December 2011. Bury took the lead through Danny Cunningham who ran on to fire low past James Russell. Bury deservedly doubled their lead on 37 minutes when Craig Nurse fired into the roof of the net following a great run down the left by Sam Reed to complete the victory . In the 2012-13 season the Blues recorded three victories over Canvey, completing a league double with a 1-0 win at both Ram Meadow and Park Lane, and also beating the Gulls 3-0 in the FA Cup 1st Qualifying Round. The following season Canvey won 1-0 at Ram Meadow in the opening game but thee Blues gained revenge with a 2-0 win at Park Lane on Boxing Day with goals from Jordan Patrick and Anthony Roulston.
The 2014-15 season saw us relegated from the Ryman Premier Division, but we managed to complete a double over the Gulls. An early season game here at Ram Meadow saw Bury win 1-0. Bury took the lead on 30 minutes with a bizarre goal. Phil Weavers hit a thunderbolt of a shot from distance straight at Steve Holder, Holder hit it again and it took a wicked deflection, looped high in the air and goal bound, St Louis-Hamilton in the Canvey goal was off his line and could not get back quick enough to stop the ball dipping just under the bar and into the net.
The return fixture saw a remarkable game at Park Lane on New Years Day 2015. Bury raced into a 2 goal lead through Hall and Sands, but Taylor Tombides scored in the 21st, 31st and 59th minute to complete his hat-trick and put Canvey in front, but goals from Hall again and Remi Garrett in the 80th minute gave three points to the Blues.
Two years ago Canvey were relegated from the Premier Division, and the first season we had met in the Bostik North for the first time in many seasons saw Mitchell Gilbey score 10 minutes from time to give the hosts all three points. In the return game at Ram Meadow, the Blues gained revenge with a 2-1 victory over 251. George Sykes had just been denied grabbing the opener after being flagged offside and, from the resulting free kick, Jack Lankester, now playing at Ipswich Town, was found in space and he steered his strike into the bottom corner of the net.
Tevan Allen then converted from close range to give Bury a two goal advantage. Mitchell Gilbey fired home from 18 yards to give Canvey hope in the last few minutes but it was Bury who took the points.
The first meeting last season saw Canvey record a 2-0 win at Park Lane. Canvey went in front early, on 9 minutes a good attacking move saw Frankie Merrifield nod in a header past Bury keeper Luis Tibbles from very close range. Canvey went further ahead with a well organised attack. Mitchell Gilbey crossed a well flighted ball into the box for Marlon Agyakwa to smash home off the bar as they recorded a 2-0 victory.

Stadium Directions:

By Car:
Exit M25 at Junction 30 and take the A13 towards Southend. You will reach a series of mini roundabouts. At these roundabouts, take the A130 towards Canvey Island. At the next roundabout take the 2nd exit which will keep a sports centre on your right and follow signs for Canvey Island Football Club. Eventually, you will enter a one way system. Keep left through the one way system and after one mile you will pass the Transport Museum on your right. Park Lane is on the right hand side shortly afterwards, with The Prospects Stadium located in front of you. There is plenty of parking outside the ground.

By Train:
Benfleet Station is 40 minutes from London Fenchurch Street and 50 minutes from London Liverpool Street on the C2C line. The station is 5 miles from the ground. There is a taxi rank around the back of the station. Alternatively, you can use the frequent bus service from the front of the station:

By Bus:
You can use the number 22 or 27 bus to be dropped directly outside Park Lane. Alternatively, you can use the number 21 or 21A to be dropped by the sea wall. From here, continue walking in the direction you travelled across some playing fields, and you will see The Prospects Stadium on your left.