Match Report by David Powell

Canvey Island crashed out of the Emirates FA Cup at the 3rd Qualifying Round stage on Sunday, falling to a poor defeat away at Southern League Division 1 Central side Biggleswade FC.

Despite the hosts being reduced to 9 men and the Gulls dominating much of the possession, they just couldn't force the issue in front of goal against their lower ranked opponents, who defended resolutely after taking the lead late in the first half. For Canvey, they looked a shadow of the side who'd put 3 goals past Chatham Town a week earlier.

Brad Wellmen made a handful of changes to his starting XI, with Conor Hubble and Finlay Dorrell returning to the starting line up. Sonny Hart made his second debut for the club on loan from Swindon Town, with Elliott Ronto unavailable. Jamie Salmon and Emmanuel Adebiyi also returned to the bench after being unavailable the week before.

The two sides looked to gain a foothold in the game in the opening stages, and it was Canvey who began get the upper hand, passing the ball around well as they looked for an opening. Finlay Dorrell made himself a handful for the hosts defence, hitting an effort wide of the top corner after 10 minutes.

Jaxon Brown was next to get an effort in, using his pace to break toward the byline on 15 minutes, where he dragged a shot across goal, with nobody on hand to turn the ball home at the back post.

The chances kept coming, with Jimmy Wallace and Tobi Tinubu both firing wide, but despite their possession, the Gulls were doing little to test George Rose in the Biggleswade goal.

Luck seemed to turn their way in the 30th minute however, as the hosts were reduced to 10 men. Chris Harris managed to get onto a ball over the top and as he broke for goal, Michael Fisher brought him down as he challenged for the ball. It seemed a 50/50 challenge, but the referee ruled in Harris' favour, giving the Biggleswade defender his marching orders. From the resulting free kick, Hubble put a strike just over the crossbar.

The hosts were unfazed however, and they took the lead against the run of play in the 38th minute. After George Bailey saw his poked effort at goal deflected wide for a corner, Lawrie Marsh rose highest to meet the delivery, heading past Bobby Mason to give his side the lead.

With it all to do in the 2nd half against a side who had something to defend, the Gulls had to throw everything at their opponents. Wellmen introduced Yates and Gilbert as he looked to set his side up to go on the offensive.

The hosts were still a threat on the break however, and created the half's first opportunities. Bailey saw a strike clear the crossbar on 50 minutes after he cut into the box, before the hosts earned a dangerous free kick as Ewan Sanchez brought an attacker down. The resulting effort once again cleared Bobby Mason's crossbar however.

The Gulls knew they had to get back into the tie and fast, and created numerous chances as the game ebbed on.

A ball in from the Canvey right caused chaos in the box on 74 minutes, with the ball dropping to Dorrell who from just inside the box, hit a low strike that was blocked on the line, with Rose stranded. Substitute Nick Dembele was next to go close, breaking into space on the left of the box but seeing his effort parried away by the feet of Rose.

The day seemed to get worse for the hosts on 79 minutes, as Charlie Hayford picked up a 2nd yellow card after bringing down Tom Stephen, with the referee reducing the hosts to 9 men.

The Gulls kept on probing as the hosts became more compact, but struggled to find a way through. Their best opportunity fell to Hubble on the 82nd minute, as he hit fierce strike at goal that required a good save from Rose to keep it out.

The hosts continued to frustrate the Gulls however, always seeming like they had half a yard on their markers, and with 5 minutes of injury time played, the referee finally brought an end to proceedings, capping a humbling afternoon for the Gulls, who will need to take lessons in their decision making forward into the rest of the season after seeing a huge opportunity slip from their grasp.

They enter another cup competition next weekend, and face another Step 4 opponent as they make the trip to Maldon & Tiptree in the Isuzu FA Trophy.