Match report by David Powell

Canvey Island exited the FA Cup after a thrilling 3-2 defeat to Bedford Town at Park Lane.

An injury hit Canvey side ran their Southern League Central Division One opponents close but bowed out to a goal in injury time in a match that ebbed and flowed.

In front of a crowd of 363 and backed by a noisy yellow army, the game was slow to get going.

The first opportunity arrived on 19 minutes when Tobi Tinubu did well down the right but Matt Price was unable to get a shot on goal from his cross.

A great break from Evans Kouassi saw him drive through the middle and pass to Elliott Ronto who dragged his shot wide from the right hand side wide of the target.

Gradually Bedford grew into the game and Connor Tomlinson tested Bobby Mason with a 25 yard shot that the keeper couldn't hold but was quick to regather.

Bedford came even closer moments later when experienced striker Rene Howe turned in the box and flashed a shot across goal that crashed off of the base of the post and was cleared for a corner.

Dan Walker then smashed a 25 yard effort over the crossbar before on 36 minutes, Bedford took the lead. Walker swung in a superb right wing cross that Howe met at the far post with a well placed header past Mason.

Evangelos Empochontsif made a superb challenge to deny Howe just before half time and Canvey went in at the break needing a rethink on how to break down a well drilled Bedford rearguard.

To their credit, they came out for the second half all guns blazing. Harrison Chatting did well to set up Price after good work down the left but the striker drove his shot inches wide of the post from the edge of the penalty area.

On 52 minutes, Canvey drew level. Ben Sampayo picked up the ball on the left and his cross was mis-kicked by Zak Brown straight to Price who finished from close range.

The game now swung from end to end. On 60 minutes, Drew Richardson's glancing header was saved by Mason before a minute later Tinubu drove down the right and sent in a cross that Price flashed a header wide from.

On 69 minutes, Bedford took the lead in emphatic style. A free kick was headed out by Price but only as far as Charley Sanders who crashed a volley past Mason from the edge of the penalty area.

Almost straight from the kick off, Sanders had to make a great block from Chatting. A minute later, Sampayo picked up the ball on the left and his cross was blocked at the near post by a Bedford player's hand. The referee had no hesitation in pointing to the penalty spot and Price emphatically drove his penalty home despite goalkeeper Alex Street getting his hand to the ball.

Canvey continued to press looking for a winner. Callum Fitzer had the ball in the net after driving home Kouassi's right wing cross but the goal was ruled out for handball. Then another fine run down the right by Tinubu on 78 minutes saw him pick out Ronto but his placed shot was brilliantly turned over the crossbar one handed by Street.

The game then went into a lull and both teams seemed set for extra time. A long stoppage because of an injury to Sampayo right on 90 minutes seemed to affect Canvey's concentration as from the re-start they failed to defend a right wing cross and Howe rose the highest to head beyond Mason and into the net.

Despite 5 minutes of stoppage time being played, Canvey were unable to fashion another chance and despite a tremendous effort exited the FA Cup at the First Qualifying round stage.