Match report by David Powell

Photo by KJA Sports Images

Canvey Island won through to the 3rd qualifying round of the FA Cup after a dramatic penalty shootout win over Biggleswade FC of the Southern League Division 1 Central.

After the two sides drew 2-2 at the end of 90 minutes, an epic penalty shoot out took place which saw Canvey keeper Bobby Mason proving to be the hero saving five spot-kicks.

The Gulls deserved their victory but made hard work of it squandering a two-goal lead and a host of chances.

Biggleswade not to be confused with Biggleswade Town who knocked Canvey out of the cup at the 4th qualifying stage in 2013 and share a ground with Town played their part in an entertaining contest.

Canvey got off to the best possible start when after 2 minutes, Conor Hubble picked up Jamie Salmon’s pass and fired a low shot home from 25 yards via a slight deflection.

Evans Kouassi was again lively on the left with his pace and skill and on 8 minutes, he teased the Biggleswade defence with a mazy run before getting an effort in that keeper Tyler Josephs saved. Tobi Joseph attempted to force the loose ball home but Josephs was brave to save at the striker’s feet.

Canvey increased their lead with a brilliantly worked strike on 18 minutes. Jey Siva picked up the ball on the left and passed to Kouassi. Kouassi waited for Siva to overlap him and passed into space to the full-back who picked out Elliott Ronto in the penalty area with a low cross that the Australian midfielder drove home with a composed finish.

At that stage, it seemed a question of how many for Canvey. Joseph headed inches wide at the near post from a left-wing cross by Harrison Chatting and although Rob Girdlestone limped off with an injury to be replaced by Mason Hall, Gulls looked in control of the game.
To their credit, Biggleswade dug in and stayed in the game playing a patient passing game that eventually started to ask questions of the Canvey defence.

On 34 minutes, Alan Fleming picked up the ball on the right and ran at the Canvey defence. His run was stopped by a clumsy tackle from Salmon in the penalty area with the referee immediately pointing to the spot.

Sam Johnson stepped up and sent Mason the wrong way from the resulting penalty.

The goal galvanised Canvey into life and a driving run from Chatting saw his effort from outside the penalty area crash off of the crossbar. Moments later Hubble crossed from the left but Joseph’s shot was blocked by the keeper.

Biggleswade started the second half well pushing Canvey back with the Gulls rearguard happy to sit back and soak up the pressure.
On the counter-attack, Gulls still looked a danger. A scintillating run from the halfway line by Kouassi saw him slalom past a couple of defenders and fire across goal and narrowly wide of the far post on 56 minutes.

For all Biggleswade’s pressure, they had not really tested the Canvey defence but on 63 minutes they found an equaliser. George Bailey picked up the ball on the left-hand side of the penalty area and sent in a curling low shot that picked up a deflection and nestled into the bottom corner of the net.

For the final 30 minutes or so it was all Canvey but a lack of composure in front of goal cost them dearly.

On 75 minutes a corner was scrambled clear and when Hubble returned the ball in from the left, Kouassi seemed set to score at the far post but headed inches wide.

Josephs did well to block when Joseph broke through and despite Canvey getting into several great positions, the Biggleswade defence put their bodies on the line to make several brave blocks.

This was epitomised on 80 minutes when Alan Fleming bravely did enough to put Hall off at the far post from a left-wing corner with the defender flicking his header just wide. The striker had to come off with a head injury after a sickening collision with his own player.

The long stoppage seemed to disrupt Canvey’s momentum and Biggleswade held out for the remainder of the game plus 6 minutes of stoppage time.

In previous seasons, the match would have gone to a replay on the Tuesday night, but under the new rules of no replays in this year’s competition, the match had to be decided by a penalty shootout.

The shoot out got off to the worst possible start for Canvey when Siva’s kick was saved and Johnson scored for Biggleswade.
The tables turned straight away when Nathan George’s effort was saved by Mason and Hubble scored for Canvey.

Backed by a vociferous Yellow Army, Biggleswade’s penalty takers looked nervous and Tom Coles was denied again by Mason with Louis Hunt calmly firing home to give Canvey the lead.

When Ryan Inskip saw his kick saved by Mason a successful conversion from Dan Humphreys would have sent Canvey through but Josephs dived to his left to keep the effort out.

Despite Elliott Kettle scoring, Kouassi knew that if he scored his penalty, Canvey would be through but he blazed his kick over much to the anguish of the Canvey fans.

2-2 after 5 penalties each and into sudden death. Cookman and Chatting scored to make it 3-3 before Mason made his 4th save, diving to his right to keep out Carl Chambers’ low penalty.

Salmon now had the chance to win it for Canvey but there was yet more drama as Josephs palmed away his effort.

On to the 8th penalty and fans would have been forgiven for losing track of the score.

Michael Simpson stepped up but his weak effort was saved by Mason. This time Ronto made no mistake, calmly executing his penalty to spark celebration amongst the Canvey fans and draw to an end a thoroughly entertaining cup tie that had many twists and turns.

Canvey now await their opponents in Monday’s Third Qualifying Round draw.