Haringey Borough 2-1 Canvey Island

Canvey Island produced a workmanlike performance but were ultimately beaten on Saturday, losing 2-1 away to Haringey Borough in the Buildbase FA Trophy 2nd Qualifying Round.

Just over a mile from Tottenham Hotspur’s Premier League match against Sheffield United at their new state of the art stadium, the other match on a cold and wet White Hart Lane saw the Gulls battle hard against higher division opposition and score late on, but for once not being able to force a replay.

Manager Mark Bentley made three changes from the side that defeated Harlow Town in the BBC Essex Senior Cup on Tuesday night.

Michael Finneran returned to the starting XI after being unavailable on Tuesday, playing in a three-man central defence alongside Elliott Warren and another returnee, Matt Lock. Alex Stephenson was originally named on the teamsheet but was forced to withdraw close to kick off due to illness.

Kane Gilbert dropped to the bench and Rob Lacey missed out altogether, with Tobi Joseph starting on the left wing.

After an uneventful opening 20 minutes, the home side registered the first shot on target after Anthony McDonald had beaten Dan Humphreys down the left. McDonald’s shot was parried downwards by Lamar Johnson, with Mike Finneran clearing behind for a corner before Romoluwa Akinola could tap home the rebound.

Tobi Joseph then put the Haringey goal in danger for the first time on 24 minutes when he chested down a left wing cross on the edge of the box. Joseph turned onto his left foot and struck a low shot which went a couple of yards wide of the bottom corner.

Borough’s Cypriot international striker Dimitrios Froxylias came close with long range efforts as the match approached the half hour mark. On 26 his strike across goal from the right had Lamar Johnson scrambling his goal before going inches wide. Then, two minutes later, Froxylias pulled the trigger from 30 yards out in a central position which Johnson pushed wide diving to his left.

Jason Hallett showed good determination to create a chance for himself on 40 minutes, chasing down Kostas Alexandrou and preventing him from shepherding the ball out for a goal kick on the left. Hallett found himself in a great position, but his shot trying to beat Conor Beattie at his near post was turned behind by the keeper.

This saved proved valuable for Haringey, as two minutes later they found themselves in front. Salyvn Kisitu made his way past Max Kent on the right wing, chipping a cross to the edge of the six yard box where Anthos Solomou was unmarked. The forward sliced his initial shot but kept hold of the ball, shooting across goal and in at the second attempt.

It could have been worse for Canvey in first half injury time when a cross field ball from the left released Romoluwa Akinola on the opposite flank, but his powerful strike from just inside the box thumped the top of the post before going behind for a goal kick.

The hosts created a number of chances with shots from outside the box in the opening 15 minutes of the second half. Froxylias and Akinola were both denied by Johnson on 52 and 54 minutes respectively, with the former then seeing a 20-yard strike miss the bottom corner by the narrowest of margins soon after.

The Cypriot finally got his goal on the hour mark when he gained possession on the right, cut onto his left foot and curled an excellent shot across goal and past Lamar Johnson to double his side’s advantage.

Canvey were gifted a fortuitous route back into the contest with 20 minutes remaining when goalkeeper Conor Beattie spilled a cross from the left by James White. The keeper attempted to pounce on the loose ball but had it kicked out of his hands by teammate Coby Rowe, providing substitute Kane Gilbert with the simple task of rolling the ball into an empty net.

However, neither side seriously worked the opposition goalkeeper in the remainder of the match, meaning that it was the Premier division outfit who would progress into the next round.