Match report by David Powell

Canvey Island won through to the 1st Round proper of the FA Trophy after an impressive 3-0 victory over Burgess Hill Town at Park Lane.

The Gulls have been in superb form and continued that with another solid performance in which they were on top for much of the game.

The struggling Isthmian South East side did give Canvey a few shaky moments especially in the first half but once Evans Kouassi gave Canvey the lead at the start of the second half , they were comfortable winners over their Sussex opponents.

It was all Canvey in the first 25 minutes of the game.

Eliott Ronto saw a header from Jey Siva's left wing cross hit the base of the post on 3 minutes and then on 15, Kouassi broke through down the left but with just keeper Taylor Seymour to beat, he fired straight at the keeper who was able to turn his shot around the post for a corner.

A minute later Tobi Tinubu's right wing cross nearly snuck in at the far post but was turned away well by Seymour.

Matt Price thought he had opened the scoring on 26 minutes when his curling shot from the edge of the penalty area looked destined for the net but was tipped on to the crossbar superbly by Seymour.

After failing to take their chances and make their dominance pay in the first 25 minutes, Canvey found themselves having to ride their luck a little in the last 20 minutes of the half.

On 28 minutes, a period of concerted pressure from Burgess Hill saw Jaden Perez's shot blocked by Tinubu before Lewis Taylor's follow up shot was deflected over the crossbar. From the resulting corner, Charlie Kelly had an effort that was deflected over the bar.

Burgess Hill came even closer on 39 minutes. Taylor's low free kick was pushed away by Bobby Mason but fell to Pat Harding who from a tight angle screwed his effort over the bar.

The score was goal-less at half time but Canvey started the second half all guns blazing. After Harrison Chatting had fired narrowly wide from just outside the penalty area they took the lead with Chatting again influential in the build up to the goal on 51 minutes.

The midfielder passed through to Kouassi who chipped the ball over the oncoming keeper before firing into the empty net.

60 seconds later Kouassi returned the compliment, collected a chest down from Price and allowing Chatting to burst into the penalty area and drill a low shot past Seymour for Canvey's 2nd goal.

Canvey were rampant now and after Price broke through and was denied by Seymour who saved at the striker's feet, Canvey completed the scoring with a quite sensational strike on 60 minutes.

Conor Hubble had already scored in all of his 6 previous matches a record that has not been matched since Lee Boylan in the 2003/04 season. The midfielder made it 7 in a row when he fired a 25 yard free kick from the right hand side that arrowed into the top corner leaving Seymour well beaten.

The game was as good as over now but Canvey continued to look for a 4th goal. Seymour pushed away a low effort from Price and then Mike Finneran nearly got his name on the scoresheet when his close range effort was blocked on the line from Price's downward header.

Gulls now take their place in Monday's 1st Round draw.

Photo: KJA Sports Images