Match Report by David Powell

Canvey Island exited the Essex Senior Cup at the Quarter Final stage, succumbing to the agony of a penalty shootout heartbreak at the hands of local rivals Concord Rangers, the game finishing 0-0 after 90 minutes.

Watched by an impressive crowd of 905, the good majority cheering them on, the Gulls dominated for majority of the match, but couldn't get the killer breakthrough against their Conference South opponents, falling 3-2 in the resulting penalty shootout.

They crafted some adventurous, attacking football in the first half, showing little fear of their higher ranked opposition. They could have gone in front after just 9 minutes, when Evans Kouassi broke through the visitors backline, but keeper Mitchell Beeney did well to block his shot.

He'd be called into action again shortly after to parry away a fine volley from Joe Paxman, before just about managing to turn Luca Albon’s 20 yard shot on to the post as the half hour mark approached.

Kouassi thought he'd broken through again on 30 minutes and had the ball in the back of the net, only for the linesmans flag to deny him the opener.

Concord’s first real opportunity of the game fell to Harrison Day, who was denied from close range by the spreaded reach of Sam Jackson. Saleem Akambi also blazed over the crossbar just before the half finished, after finding room in the penalty area.

The second half saw a tighter affair, with both midfields battling to take hold of the match.

Luca Albon had to be alert to clear a Harvey Beckett effort off of the line, before finding himself involved down the other end of the pitch when he dribbled to the edge of the penalty area, but saw his effort deflected just wide of Beeney’s goal.

The Gulls kept coming forward, countering well on the break after a superb defensive display. Tinubu and Sorondo were constant threat on the flanks, but their efforts into the area were either hoofed clear by the visitors rearguard or poked wide by the strikers.

Despite plenty of effort, neither side could break the deadlock, so the match went straight to penalties.

Connor Hubble converted the first kick, with Mitchell Beeney notching to level.
Beeney then saved Kouassi’s kick, with Concord scoring their next one.
Hope was restored to Gulls briefly when Paxman fired home an excellent penalty, Kamara then smashing his effort against the crossbar.

This was short lived however, as Charlie Edwards’s kick was saved by Beeney and Concord scored their fourth kick.

It fell to Odei Martin Sorondo, needing to score to keep Canvey in the game, but he fired his effort over the crossbar, the Gulls crashing out of the competition at the Quarter Final stage.

They can be proud of their performance despite the defeat however, dominating much of the game against their higher ranked and leaving the gap between the two sides closer than it has been in recent years.

Their attention now turns back to the chase for the playoffs, as Brad Wellmen take his side to Corinthian Casuals this Saturday.