Braintree Town 3-1 Canvey Island (AET)

Match Report by David Powell

Canvey Island exited the Emirates FA Cup at the 2nd Qualifying Round, after a heartbreaking 3-1 replay defeat to Braintree Town after Extra Time.

The Gulls found themselves a goal up just before half time and, despite several chances for both sides, that's how it looked it would remain, but for the hosts to equalise in the dying seconds of eight added on minutes, going on to win the tie in the 2nd half of Extra Time.

Canvey played well throughout the match however, more than matching their skillful Conference South opponents, and if not for the heroics of home keeper Jack Sims, could very well have put the game to bed.

He made the first of those saves after just 4 minutes, with Bradley Sach latching on to a ball into the area, though his shot didn't have the vemon to beat Sims.

At the other end, the Canvey defence were being put through their paces on the flanks, and Sam Jackson was forced into an excellent stop of his own at the near post, to deny Matthew Carson after he was fed in by Dan Sparks.

The hosts enjoyed much of the possession in the first half ,and tested Jackson on several occasions.
Tom Blackwell first mis-kicked a good chance in front of goal, before Jackson made another good save to keep out another effort from Carson, with the follow up being kicked cleared off the line.

Canvey looked threatening on the break however, especially through Evans Kouassi, who looked dangerous, and gave the Braintree backline more than their fair share of headaches as he looked to score and provide throughout the half.

He was unlucky not to score when he outmaneuvered a defender on the right hand side of the penalty area and fired across goal, only for his shot to drift inches wide. With the hosts firing high and wide at the other end however, the Canvey talisman would see his chance come - and he took it in some style.

On the stroke of half time, he picked up the ball around 30 yards from goal, drove forward with conviction, and fired a low shot beyond Sims and into the corner of the net to send the travelling Yellow Army behind the goal into raptures.

The hosts, as expected, came out all guns blazing in the second half, pushing the Gulls back into their half for much of the opening 20 minutes.

First, Aaron Blair fired into the side netting on 55 minutes, before Jackson made another fantasic reaction save with his legs to deny Blackwell the equaliser. The Gulls were then given a let off, when Joe Grimwood's header crashed off the crossbar as Braintree kept squandering opportunities to score.

Canvey were able to break more and more into the hosts half as time ticked on however and had a great chance to score a second. Bradley Sach produced some fantastic hold up play in the box, swatting away his marker before turning and shooting at goal, only for Sims to produce a fine save down low to deny him.

Back at the other end, Jackson made another great save to deny Kyran Clements, before the ball broke forward to Sach again shortly after, but he was denied again by Sims, who was able to parry away his shot from close range.

The 90th minute came, with the fourth official producing eight minutes of added time for the Gulls to battle through. Forward the hosts came again, but they couldn't break through a resilient Canvey defence, with Louie Arrowsmith in particular shutting everything down on his flank.

Then, in the 94th minute, Kouassi found himself with a huge chance to seal the game for Canvey when he broke clear of the Braintree defence, but Sims was equal to his effort with another excellent save to deny a certain winner.

It proved a key moment, as in the last few seconds of stoppage time, Clements bundled the ball home at the back post for the hosts following a free kick, taking the game to extra time as the refferee blew his whistle straight from kick off.

The wind was in the hosts sails throughout the additional time, with Canvey limited to catching them on the break as both sides looked to find a winner. Chances came and went for the hosts in the first half, Louie Arrowsmith denying them a certain goal towards the end with a superb block at the back post.

In the second period, the Gulls went closest through substitute Luke Deslandes, with his angled effort on target being blocked well in front of goal by a Braintree defender.

In the 114th minute, Jackson was again on hand to produce a superb double save to keep the hosts out. However, the resulting corner saw tired heads and tried bodies miscommunicate, allowing Matshazi to beat Jackson to the ball and square it kindly for Aaron Blair, who won the game for the hosts.

He made certain of the result just minutes later, as he beat Tinubu to the ball in the area and hit a fine volley past the onrushing Jackson, leaving the Canvey shotstopper well beaten.

The final whistle blew minutes later to confirm Canvey's exit from the FA Cup for another season. Despite the result, they were clapped off by those who remained from the travelling contingent after they held their own over two games and 210 minutes against last seasons Conference South playoff contenders.

They'll need to regroup quickly for Saturday, as they return to league action for the visit of Margate to the Moviestarr Stadium.