Kentish Football 
Canvey Island will be looking to bounce back, warns Margate boss Iain O'Connell
Wednesday 12th January 2011
MARGATE manager Iain O’Connell says he knows a lot about Saturday’s opponents Canvey Island, writes Stephen McCartney.
O’Connell, who lives in Leigh-on-Sea, eased the pressure with a resilient 1-0 win over Wealdstone on Monday night, as a stunning strike from Dan Stubbs on the stroke of half-time ensured it was a worthwhile trip to Ruislip.
Margate’s seventh league win of the season took them up to thirteenth place in the table and are now ten points adrift of the relegation zone - or eight points behind fifth-placed Lowestoft Town, who occupy the final play-off berth.
O’Connell’s men travel to Canvey Island on Saturday, the Essex side are just one place above Margate, with 28 points from 21 league outings.
The Margate boss said: “It’s close by to me, I know the manager, I know a lot of their players, it will be a very tough game.
“They’ve had a bad result (losing 6-1 away to Harrow Borough last Saturday), so they will be looking to bounce back from that.”
O’Connell joked he will be relishing leaving his front door later than normal.
“It’s about half-an-hour drive from my house,” he said. “The Island of Canvey’s sometimes hard. Once you’re on there it’s a one-way system and it can take you a long time to get five miles, so it will still take me a good half-hour to get there.”
O’Connell, meanwhile, remained tight lipped on Monday night when asked why he has placed skipper Jay Saunders - who missed the Wealdstone game due to being admitted into hospital with flu - on the transfer list.
“That’s an internal matter,” was his four word reply.
Visit Margate’s website: www.margate-fc.com
Canvey Island v Margate
Ryman Premier League
Saturday 15th January 2011
Kick Off 3:00pm
At Park Lane, Canvey Island, Essex SS8 7PX
Red Dragon I.T. Ltd