CANVEY ISLAND

RYMAN PREMIER LEAGUE

How do the fixtures look? After a difficult opening game at Enfield Town, Canvey Island will fancy their chances at making an early impression in the Ryman Premier League this season.

Leiston, Leatherhead and Needham Market await in the following fortnight, with Danny Heale’s side aiming to make a good start, as they did last time out.

Top of the league last October, some tricky away matches in succession this year means the Gulls will need to be on form heading into September, with Dulwich Hamlet, Havant & Waterlooville, Lowestoft Town and Worthing lying in wait.

Key period: February. Often a crunch month in the season, Canvey have three home matches out of four and will fancy their chances in their only away clash at Met Police. Maximum points in this month could prove pivotal.

The manager’s view: Danny Heale: “It is hard to say much as no-one knows where everyone is at until after eight or so games. Enfield away will be a tough opener and we always seem to lose by the odd goal at their place. We seem to always play Leiston early on and it is another tough one and we need to make sure we’re prepared.

“We need to prepare and we will break it down. Leatherhead and Leiston at home are games that we will target as you need to start well at home.

“We always look forward to the local derbies but they are good sides and come the first game, we will be ready.”

Fixtures: AUGUST: 13 Enfield Town (A), 16 Leiston (H), 20 Leatherhead (H), 23 Needham Market (A), 27 Dulwich Hamlet (A), 29 Harlow Town (H) SEPTEMBER: 3 FA Cup 1st Qualifying Round, 10 Havant & Waterlooville (A), 17 Staines Town (H), 20 Lowestoft Town (A), 24 Kingstonian (H), 27 Hendon (H) OCTOBER: 1 Worthing (A), 6 Met Police (H), 11 Leiston (A), 15 Tonbridge Angels (A), 18 Needham Market (H), 22 Enfield Town (H), 29 FA Trophy Enfield Town (A) NOVEMBER: 5 Folkestone Invicta (A), 12 Burgess Hill Town (A), 19 Wingate & Finchley (H), 22 Hendon (A), 26 Worthing (H), 29 Lowestoft Town (H) DECEMBER: 3 Kingstonian (A), 10 Grays Athletic (A), 17 Merstham (H), 26 Billericay Town (H), 31 AFC Sudbury (A) JANUARY: 2 Harlow Town (A), 7 Dulwich Hamlet (H), 14 Harrow Borough (A), 21 Bognor Regis Town (H), 28 Leatherhead (A) FEBRUARY: 4 Tonbridge Angels (H), 11 Met Police (A), 18 Folkestone Invicta (H), 25 Burgess Hill Town (H) MARCH: 4 Wingate & Finchley (A),11 Grays Athletic (H), 18 Merstham (A), 25 Bognor Regis Town (A) APRIL: 1 Harrow Borough (H), 8 Staines Town, 15 Havant & Waterlooville (H), 17 Billericay Town (A), 22 AFC Sudbury (H)