Match Report by David Powell

Canvey Island progressed to the 4th Round of the BBC Essex Senior Cup on Tuesday evening with a bang, as they defeated Essex Senior League side Buckhurst Hill 3-0 at Myrak Park.

In front of a healthy crowd of 154, the Gulls exorcised any demons they had from last seasons shock defeat to their lower ranked opponents with a professional performance, with a Chris Harris strike before half time and a Bradley Sach brace in the 2nd half enough to see them into the hat for the next round.

The game started on an even footing, with both sides sussing the other out as they looked to make chances. For the hosts, their threat came on the break, with the pace of Tyreece Robertson and George Hammond keeping Sonny Hart and Ollie Parsons on their toes at the back.

Canvey had plenty of speed of their own in Jaxon Brown and Tobi Tinubu however, with the pair breaking into the box several times but unable to clearly tee up Harris or Sach.

Harris managed to make himself several half chances, and a decent header on 25 minutes from a corner forcing home keeper Toby Smith into a good save. Tobi Tinubu also saw a shot dragged wide of a goal after a deflection as he broke at goal shortly after.

The Gulls patience would pay off in the 38th minute though as they took the lead. A recycled ball into the area from Tom Stephen was met by Harris, with the ball going in off the strikers knee to deceive Smith and give the Gulls the lead.

Into the second half, and it was the hosts who had their best chance to level after just 3 minutes. A low, angled strike from Jude Carolan stung the gloves of Bobby Mason, with the ball falling kindly to Archie Hammond, but the wingers shot was blocked well by Stephen in front of goal.

Canvey continued to probe and press however, looking for the killer second goal to secure the contest. They found it in the 54th minute, when good footwork from Brown on edge of the area saw him fire a low strike that Smith couldn't hold, allowing Sach to nip in and poach the goal to put Canvey in command.

The hosts never gave up the game however, and made another good chance midway through the half as Dan Jones forced a great reaction save from Mason to turn his fierce volley onto the crossbar. He'd test the keeper again in the 78th minute with another well worked strike that needed a good hand to take it wide of goal.

The Gulls kept a firm grip on the contest however, keeping a good shape and making several more chances through strikes from Elliott Ronto, Matt Yates and Harrison Whitelaw.
They'd finally put the game to bed in inhury minute though, with Sach grabbing his brace after picking up the ball 20 yards from goal and hitting a sweet strike that beat Smith and won the contest.

The Gulls will wait for the outcome of the 4th Round draw in due course, and turn their attention back to league duties on Saturday, such Whitehawk the visitors to the Steves Taxis Stadium.