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Gulls were dominant from start to finish against their Essex Senior League opponents who played over 50 minutes of the match with ten men after former Canvey player Scott Forbes was sent off for violent conduct.

Canvey were thoroughly dominant during the first half and it seemed a question of when they would take the lead rather than if as they swarmed all over The Airportmen’s defence.

Michael Alaile flashed a header wide after 4 minutes and then a quite awful mix up between keeper Sid Anguiley and a defender presented Robbie King with a chance but he could only fire into the side netting.

King saw a speculative volley zip inches over the crossbar and then on 21 minutes Heale played in Gordon down the right hand side of the penalty area but Anguiley turned his effort around the post for a corner.

Canvey looked in control of the game but a weak pass from King to Steve Ward nearly presented Stansted with an unlikely lead on 26 minutes. Tyrone White picked up the ball, accelerated through the middle and fired inches wide of the far post with James Russell beaten.

It was a let off for Canvey who had started to become a little sloppy in their play over the last 5 minutes and they got a goal to settle their nerves on 28 minutes.
Kevin Dobinson superbly won a tackle in midfield and passed to Gordon who succeeded in knocking the ball through to Heale who from inside the penalty area calmly placed his shot beyond Anguiley.

Stansted’s hopes of getting back into the game were effectively ended on 39 minutes when Forbes was sent off after a clash with Dobinson. The former Southend man appeared to head-butt Dobinson before collapsing to the floor to give the appearance he had been the victim. The referee was quick to show a red card to Forbes and caution Dobinson for his part in the skirmish.

As a precaution, Dobinson was taken off at half time and replaced by Jay Curran.

Now down to ten men, it was difficult to see Stansted get back into the match but it took until midway through the second half for Gulls to eventually exploit their extra man advantage and go on and seal the game.

Heale saw a powerful volley saved and held at his near post by Anguiley before the striker grabbed his second goal of the game on 65 minutes.

Ashley Dumas and Alex Rhodes combined down the left and Dumas swung in a superb cross that left the keeper completely stranded and Heale the simple task of heading into an unguarded net from close range.

Canvey replaced Rhodes with Antonio Gonnella but sensed more goals were to be had in this match.

A Heale flick found Curran in space on 69 minutes but his powerful drive was held well by Anguiley.

Gulls scored a third on 70 minutes when Gordon went though and bundled home at the second attempt after the keeper had saved his shot.

The game was now wrapped up for Canvey and Stansted were chasing shadows as Gulls passed the ball amongst themselves stretching the tiring limbs of the Airportmen’s players.

It was exhibition stuff at times and Matt Game came close on three occasions to notching a rare goal coming the nearest with a tremendous first time volley from nearly 30 yards that crashed off of the top of the crossbar and away.

Stansted to their credit kept playing and grabbed a consolation to make the score-line a little more respectable on 86 minutes. White held off John Easterford and fired a shot from the right hand side of the penalty area across Russell and into the bottom corner of the net.

Canvey though finished with a flourish and Heale completed his hat-trick in injury time with a side footed finish after good work by Gordon to set him up.

Gulls now eagerly await Monday’s Second Qualifying Round draw hoping to make further progress in a competition that holds many good memories for them.