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Clarets deliver as ex-team-mates face off at Canvey
Pre-season friendly
Canvey Island 1 Chelmsford City 4
Bertie Brayley was once more in the limelight as his sensational double strike spurred the Clarets on to another impressive victory, with away fans especially in awe of the first-rate passing football produced by Jeff King's new and improved team in the first half.
Last season's top scorer took his pre-season haul to five goals in four games as King's former club were blown away, with Kevin James and James Lawson adding to the scoreline at Park Lane.
Included in the side were two brand new signings, right-back Justin Miller and striker Chris Moore. Miller joined from Port Vale having spent a distinguished time with Leyton Orient, while Moore grew his reputation at Dagenham & Redbridge and netted five Football League goals at Victoria Road last season.
King's return to the club where he spent some successful years naturally meant several old Canvey faces returning to south Essex, while a number of former Clarets also lined up on the other side including Craig Davidson, Colin Wall, Kevin Dobinson and Richard Halle. This made for a competitive game with an added edge not usually seen in a friendly fixture.
Brayley wasted no time in making his mark on the game, half-volleying powerfully into the side netting on 16 minutes before opening the scoring three minutes later. He was put through on goal and he successfully rounded young goalkeeper Ricky Wiseman as he slotted home.
He then turned provider around the half-hour mark. First he was set away down the left to then float the ball into the centre for Ricky Holmes who smacked a half-volley straight at Wiseman who stayed strong to parry away.
Following this he sent another delivery over to the far post in the aftermath of a set piece and, despite Andy Duncan's head guiding the ball over the line, the assistant referee's flag ruled the goal out for offside.
Nevertheless, a devastating half continued to go the visitors' way and a dreadful mistake from Wall enabled Jon Keeling to dribble once more around Wiseman only to drill agonisingly wide of the open goal from a tight angle. This meant little, however, on 37 minutes when a ball over the top saw Brayley sprint to catch it and rattle home on the bounce with style.
Within three minutes of the interval Chelmsford moved into exhibition mode, capped with a third goal from midfielder Kevin James. A cutting pass sent him away with only Wiseman to beat and he did just that, staying onside to tap through the keeper's body into the bottom corner.
Brayley could then have sealed a stupendous hat-trick but for the width of the crossbar as he brought the half to a close. Chasing back, he produced a fantastic tackle then returned to his feet to evade a counter-challenge prior to executing a delicate, 35-yard chip which beat Wiseman but not the woodwork.
Canvey re-entered the pitch with enhanced purpose and they also went mightily close to netting through Leon Gordon's rasping strike which forced Danny Gay to tip the ball onto the crossbar and over.
Though City were a constant danger and substitute Jason Hallett, another ex-Gulls face who had entered proceedings just four minutes earlier, intercepted a 64th-minute pass in the corner of the pitch and sent the ball into the box with the outside of his boot where Lawson arrived and nodded into the net.
Shortly afterwards Lawson was bearing down on goal again only to be denied by the bravery of Wiseman, who also blocked Dave Rainford's follow-up, while at the other end a penalty for a foul meant Canvey pulled a goal back as Jay Curran tucked his spot-kick down the middle of the goal.
The same player was unlucky not to double his personal total as he again troubled the crossbar with a thumping drive from distance but it made no further impact on a justified scoreline, leaving the travelling Clarets fans hungry for more sumptuous football from their team in future matches.
11:33am Monday 21st July 2008
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