Match Report by Jonathan Andrews

Player Of The Match - Tom Stephen

Canvey Island progressed to the 1st Round Proper of the Isuzu FA Trophy on Saturday afternoon, with a hard fought win over Isthmian League North side Maldon & Tiptree.

In front of 203 at Park Drive, an action packed opening 20 minutes saw the Gulls take an early lead, before being pegged back by an equaliser, and then restoring their lead 5 minutes later. The hosts piled the pressure on in the 2nd half, but the Gulls were able to defend resolutely to put their name in the hat for Monday's draw.

With a busy week approaching in the league, Brad Wellmen rotated several members of his team from last week's defeat at Biggleswade. Jamie Salmon returned to the starting line up to captain the side, along with Elliott Ronto and Kane Gilbert. Michael Freiter also made his first start for the club.

It didn't take long for the Gulls to open the scoring, taking the lead on 7 minutes. After forcing a corner, the delivery from Conor Hubble was met by Kane Gilbert, who nodded the ball on to Sonnt Hart to header home - the defenders first goal for the club whilst on loan from Swindon Town.

The Gulls bossed the early possession but found their hosts looking to catch them quick on the counter. It was a bit of quick thinking that got them their equaliser on 16 minutes. After they won a free kick from about 25 yards out, former Gulls striker Matt Price played a clever free kick into the path of Kien Connolly, who duped his markers to fire home past Mason inside the area.

The Gulls didn't let the set back get the better of them however, continuing to press forward as they sought to regain the lead.
It wouldn't be long before they did just that. In the 21st minute, another deliver from Hubble caused the desired chaos in the area, leaving room for Tom Stephen to fire home a fierce low drive through a crowd, leaving home keeper Jamis Grossart rooted to his line.

The pendulum swung back and forth, with the Gulls patient play countered by swift charges forward from the hosts. They'd both hit the woodwork before half time. On 38 minutes, a corner for Maldon nearly floated straight in, deceiving everyone before it crashed off the bar - the Gulls scrambling the loose ball away. Then just before half time, an cross from Michael Freiter almost drifted beneath the crossbar too, only for Grossart to turn it onto the woodwork.

Into the second half and the hosts began to come forward with purpose. Hakeem Sandah and Kien Connolly began looking to make opportunities from out wide, though their efforts were either snuffed out by Tinubu and Stephen, or put wide and hig by the strikers.

At the other end, Canvey were now the team looking to counter, with Chris Harris looming to tee up Jaxon Brown and Kane Gilbert, though neither were given the opportunity to trouble Grossart in the home goal.

Both sides crafted out a big moment in the half, only to be denied by the opposing defence. First, Maldon saw an effort from a corner saved by Bobby Mason, before being scrambled away to safety before the loose ball was poked home. Later in the half, Harris would again nod a ball through into the path of substitute Finlay Dorrell, who broke with pace. He unselfishly squared the ball to fellow sub Nick Dembele, who was ready to pull the trigger, only to be intercepted just in time by Quaine Bartley.

There was one more big moment deep into injury time as the Gulls looked to keep possession and see out the game. An off the ball incident after the referee had blown for a free kick saw Matt Price given a straight red card, meaning the afternoon ended in disappointment for him against his former club.

The Gulls now take their place in Monday’s draw before returning to league again on Tuesday night, when they host Cray Valley PM.