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A hat-trick from on loan Southend United striker Kyle Asante helped dispose of the Ryman One North strugglers and apart from a few scares, Canvey were rarely troubled and were always in control of this match.

Canvey featured a number of fringe players in their starting 11 for this third round game with the likes of Andre Foster, Jamie Matthews and Danny Kerrigan all getting a chance to impress.

Although Harry Larner forced Foster into an acrobatic save in the first ten minutes, Canvey started strongly and took the lead after 12 minutes.

Alex Rhodes’ cross from the left found Jay Curran unmarked at the far post and he took a touch before volleying home past Rhys Madden from close range.

Some sloppyness in defence by Canvey allowed Junior Adoye a chance on goal but with the goal gaping he somehow headed Mark Teasdale’s right wing cross wide on 18 minutes.

It proved to be a costly miss as 5 minutes later, Asante scored the first of his three goals as a miscued clearance by Michael Elliott in the penalty area fell perfectly to the striker who comfortably volleyed home past Madden.

To their credit, Ware failed to let their heads drop and continued to battle away and create opportunities.

Some shoddy Canvey defending on 26 minutes saw Tony Martin have a clear run on goal but he hurried his shot and fired a tame effort straight at Foster.

Four minutes later Ware reduced the arrears. Aime Blessing showed his pace in tricking his way into the six yard box from the left and fired into the corner of the net beyond Foster.

This failed to rattle Canvey and they ended the half strongly continually looking dangerous every time they broke forward.
John Easterford had the ball in the net on 38 minutes after Madden had made a save from a close range header but the ‘goal’ was ruled out for offside.

Gulls restored their two goal advantage on the stroke of half time. Leon Gordon showed a great turn of pace to burst past a defender down the right and play in a superb cross that Rhodes dispatched past Madden with a low placed shot into the bottom far corner of the net at the far post.

Canvey continued to dominate in the second half and had numerous chances to end the game as a contest.

Asante should have scored on 53 minutes when a flick on found him completely unmarked just yards away from the goal but he fired over the crossbar.

A good move involving Curran and Asante saw the on loan striker fire a weak effort straight at Madden and then on 60 minutes, Curran lashed a powerful low shot from the edge of the penalty area just wide.

Canvey’s neat, passing football was cutting open the Ware defence and a good move saw Kerrigan cross from the right but Rhodes couldn’t quite keep his header down.

Gulls replaced Rhodes with Antonio Gonnella on 69 minutes and the talented winger immediately caused the Ware defence problems with his skill and willingness to run at defenders.

Ware tried to retrieve something from the game but Easterford and Michael Alaile were strong in the heart of Canvey’s defence and snuffed out any threat quickly.

Gulls sealed the match in the final eight minutes with Asante scoring two goals that were literally gifted to him on a ‘plate’.

On 82 minutes, Gordon’s cross from the right was completely missed by Anthony Lane at the near post leaving Asante the simple task of volleying the ball past the unprotected keeper.

Asante completed one of the easiest hat-tricks he is ever likely to get on 86 minutes when Lane’s diabolically short back-pass to Madden was intercepted by the striker who rounded the goalkeeper and walked the ball into the empty net.

Canvey now progress into the 4th round of the competition and with the Gulls still having interest in both the FA Trophy and Essex Senior Cup, they are certainly enjoying a good season in knock-out competitions.