Buckhurst Hill 2-1 Canvey Island

Match Report by David Powell

Canvey Island suffered a disastrous exit from the Essex Senior Cup at the 4th Round Stage, losing 2-1 away at Essex Senior League side Buckhurst Hill on Tuesday evening.

On an evening where the prize was a trip to League Two side Colchester United in the Quarter Finals, the Gulls were second best against their lower ranked opposition and were left to rue their own errors in losing the game.

Canvey were once again hit for injuries and absences, with seven first team players unavailable on the night. Recently registered Myles Baiden, Kojo Gyimah and Joshua Samuels all started for the Gulls.

It took just seven minutes for the hosts to make their breakthrough. A corner played in from the right looped in close to goal and Canvey keeper Sam Jackson was unable to get hands on the cross, leaving home striker George Thompson with the simplest of headers at the back post to put his side in front.

Worse would follow on 21 minutes when the hosts added a second. Another dangerous ball into the box was saved low by Jackson, but the Canvey defence couldn't clear their lines on multiple attempts, leaving defender Abdular Sorr to leather the ball home and extend his sides advantage.

This finally woke the sleepwalking Gulls up as they came forward in search of a way back into the game. Good work down the channels by Gyimah and Arrowsmith began to open holes in the home defence, and if merited Canvey a way back into the game on 28 minutes.

Good interplay between Albon and Arrowsmith saw the later charge into the box and beat the keeper, with his effort helped in by home defender Frankie Lisheri for an own goal.

The hosts were still looking to do further damage however, and a good effort from the edge of the box just before the break had Jackson flying across his goal to produce a good save and keep the deficit at one.

Into the second half and the hosts look to shut up shop, with Canvey seeking an equaliser but failing to test Finn Rushton in the home goal.

Charlie Edwards perhaps had Canvey's best chance as he put a header wide from a free kick delivery midway through the half. Bradley Sach also fired over the bar late on from around 25 yards out, but he Gulls huffed and puffed for the majority of the half, finding no way to break down a dogged and determined defence. The hosts themselves still looked threatening on the counter, pulling apart the link between the Gulls midfield and defence on a few occasions, though failing to extend the lead.

Despite the referee playing eight minutes of stoppage time, they managed to hold on to earn a rightfully deserved place in the Quarter Finals and a trip to Colchester United.
For the Gulls, it was a calamitous performance and one that left many in the reasonably sized away following shaking their heads at full time.

Brad Wellmen will demand a response in the league at the weekend, though it won't be easy, with high flying Enfield Town the next visitors to the Moviestarr Stadium.