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In a controversial match that saw 4 penalties awarded, Gulls scrapped through against their opponents who currently top Ryman One North.

Both teams have experienced Trophy glory in the last ten years and this was a rip-roaring local derby that produced numerous fireworks on a chilly November 5th afternoon.

Gulls started brightly dominating the early exchanges with Matt Game and Kevin Dobinson bossing the midfield. From Dobinson’s left wing corner on 6 minutes, Jason Hallett turned the ball towards goal but Grays’ keeper Andy Hall blocked his effort with Steve Sheehan firing the loose ball high over the crossbar.

Hallett then tested Hall with a powerful shot from the edge of the penalty area that the keeper did well to beat away.

Grays gradually settled with former Brentwood winger Joao Carlos causing problems for the Canvey defence down the left wing.

On 25 minutes they took the lead from the penalty spot. Harry Agombar’s excellent pass sent Carlos scampering away down the left and as he cut into the penalty area he was chopped down by a clumsy tackle from Michael Alaile.

Agombar stepped up and fired his penalty past James Russell and into the bottom corner of the net.

Grays nearly grabbed a second moments later when Jean Michele Sigere just failed to get through from Joe Sweeney’s ball in from the right.

Canvey thought they had a decent opportunity to score on 30 minutes when Hallett outmuscled Lee Flynn and went through on goal but the referee judged harshly that Hallett had fouled the defender in his attempts to get to the ball.

Carlos then produced another exciting run down the left and fired in a stinging drive that brought the best out of Russell who dived to his left to push the ball away.

Grays were just beginning to get on top but Canvey grabbed an equaliser in spectacular fashion on 35 minutes. Danny Heale received the ball 25 yards out and curled a magnificent shot that flew past Hall and dipped into the top corner of the net.

Ashley Dumas was booked for Canvey as an entertaining half drew to a close.

The crowd of 344 were treated to a gripping second half as Canvey started positively.

It was Grays who regained the lead on 55 minutes. Carlos again caused more damage down the left surging past Alaile’s tackle and as he got into the penalty area he stumbled under the weight of Robbie King’s challenge with the referee awarding another penalty.

Agombar stepped up and again made no mistake calmly stroking his penalty past Russell.

Canvey for a while were stunned and nearly conceded 5 minutes later when Carlos fed Sigere but as he rolled the ball past Russell, Sheehan somehow got back to make a magnificent clearance right on the goal-line.

Canvey replaced Alaile and Leon Gordon with Andrew West and Jay Curran and these substitutions seemed to ‘steady the ship’. Curran in particular impressed with his work rate and his direct running.

Canvey were in no mood to give up and they equalised on 69 minutes when King was flattened by keeper Hall as he attempted to lift the ball over him.

Hall was lucky to receive just a yellow card but King punished him firing home emphatically from the resulting penalty.

Grays’ pace on the attack continued to cause problems for the Canvey defence and Sweeney again found Carlos on 73 minutes who burst into the area but his shot was deflected across goal and inches wide of the far post.

Canvey then had to survive a barrage of corners as Grays turned up the pressure. Dobinson had to make a brave block from a fierce goal bound shot and the Gulls’ rearguard had to be on its’ toes to make a number of decisive clearances.

Canvey weathered this storm and finished the game strongly. A good break on 79 minutes saw Heale work his way into the penalty area but his shot was blocked by a defender. Curran was quick to the loose ball but although he lifted the ball past Hall it dropped wide of the post.

The game seemed to be heading towards a replay at Park Lane on Tuesday night until on 87 minutes Hallett drove towards the penalty area and was fouled on the edge by Kenny Beaney.

Dobinson’s free kick struck the wall but the midfielder immediately played the ball back into the area where John Easterford struck a volley towards goal that seemed to be blocked by Bradley Thomas’ hand. The referee had no hesitation in pointing to the spot and cautioning Thomas for his protestations.

King had the responsibility of putting Canvey through to the next round and he showed a cool head, blasting past Hall and into the net.

Grays brought on Louis Dennis but Canvey saw out the remaining minutes comfortably and Hallett could have sealed victory in the final minute of stoppage time but steered Dobinson’s pass wide.

The whistle blew minutes later to confirm a superb victory for the Gulls and a place in the 3rd and final qualifying round of the competition.