Edgware Town went top of the Ryman League Division One North tonight with a 3-0 win over Canvey Island, who drop from fifth to eighth place in the league. The light rain made the surface of the excellently prepared White Lion pitch very slick and the two teams tried each other out in the early exchanges writes Paul Gregory.

 

Ten minutes in the Wares ‘skipper’ Rory Smith powered forward and hit a cracking shot from 20 yards which the visitors keeper, Ricky Wiseman, did well to palm out, but the home side had nobody following in to take advantage. Five minutes later Greg Ngoyi was tripped up in the box and referee Mr Belbin pointed to the spot, however, not for the first time this season Edgware failed to capitalize and Adil Salih’s somewhat soft penalty was easily saved by Wiseman.

 

The traffic was not all one way and the ‘Gulls’ Ian Luck forced Darren Bonfield to make a great save just after the twenty minute mark and a few minutes later it was Luck again put through on goal but his scything shot rebounded off the post with the big home keeper stranded.

 

Johnny Moore shot over when set up by Gavin Hart’s incisive run on the wing 37 minutes in and as the first half drew to a close both sides set up good attacks without being able to break through the opposing defenders. Rory Smith again commanding the Wares back line like a General marshalling his troops.

 

The Wares started the second period in a more determined frame of mind and it was within 8 minutes of the restart that it paid off. Densil Davidson, who’s blistering pace had beaten his marker, ran in on goal and crashed the ball into the top of the net to give his side the breakthrough.

 

Moore had a shot palmed out by Wiseman moments later and then Greg Ngoyi scored an astounding second for Edgware a minute before the hour. Going one on one with Wiseman to win a cross Ngoyi leaped, what must have been at least 3 feet in the air, heading the ball into goal through the keepers outstretched arms.

 

Four minutes later Edgware were awarded a second penalty, Ngoyi was upturned in the box by Wiseman when the speedy striker went through on goal. This time it was Ngoyi himself that took the kick and firmly planted the ball in the back of the net to make the score 3 – 0

 

Canvey threw everything at the Wares to try and salvage the situation, Luck again forced Bonfield into a save low on his left with a fierce strike and moments later the keeper had to palm a strike out which fell to the visitors Chris Bourne but the striker skied the ball over the crossbar.

 

Edgware’s back line held firm to the end frustrating the opposition, with always the chance of sneaking a fourth with their swift counter attacks. At the end a very enjoyable contest watched by close to 150 spectators and a good atmosphere amongst the supporters of both teams.

 

EDGWARE: Bonfield, Davidson, Hart, Ferneé, Lewis, R Smith, Salih, Moore, Ngoyi (Brady), Cain (S Blackburne), Maharjan (Morton)

 

OTHER SUBS: Ingham, Stopps.