Canvey Island suffered an embarrassing exit from the Essex Senior Cup after losing on penalties to Essex Senior League side Benfleet at the Steve’s Taxi’s Stadium.

Fleet were good value for their victory in this Castle Point derby and an inspired performance from former Gulls’ keeper Flo Gislette who scored a dramatic equaliser before saving two penalties in the shootout saw them knock the holders out after a 1-1 draw after 90 minutes.

Benfleet forced the first save from Lewis Greene on 8 minutes with the keeper tipping away an angled drive.

Canvey responded on 15 minutes with Ollie Reeve breaking down the left and his low cross was fired just over by Max Fiddes.

Matas Skarna then tested Gislette with a curving shot that he managed to beat to safety on 27 minutes.

A few minutes later, Gulls were ahead when Fiddes did well to win the ball and show great pace to break into the penalty area and slide the ball past Gislette.

Benfleet nearly struck back immediately when Greene got his fingertips to a drive from the edge of the penalty area to push it on to the outside of the post with the ball flying across the face of goal and away to safety.

Skarna who had an impressive game on the right fired over from inside the penalty area as half time approached.

Into the second half and a great through pass provided Benfleet with a chance on 55 minutes but Greene stood up well to make the save with the rebound hacked away from the line.

Benfleet came more into the game in the second half but Gulls still had chances to extend their lead with a scramble from a right wing corner seeing the ball clip the far post before Charlie Stimson broke through but Gislette was down well to save his effort and hold the ball.

Stimson then fired a weak effort at Gislette after a good break down the left by Fin Dorrell as the game approached the last 10 minutes.

There was drama in the last few minutes of the game when keeper Gislette went up for a corner and managed after a scramble to poke the ball home much to the delight of the Benfleet players and supporters.

Fleet could have won it in stoppage time after a corner dropped to the player on the edge of the penalty area but Greene did superbly to turn his fierce shot over the crossbar.

With the score level at full time the game went to penalties.

Gislette was again the hero saving penalties from Lewis Jaggs and Elliott Ronto and despite Kenedi Dariri scoring his kick for Gulls, Benfleet confidently despatched all their penalties to win 4-1 and seal a famous and deserved victory.

Match Report by David Powell.