The Gulls began their FA Cup journey as they travelled to the Orbital Fasteners Stadium to face Kings Langley. Garry Kimble’s side were looking to improve on Tuesday’s draw with Brightlingsea Regent at home.

The hosts kicked-off the afternoon to get our 26/27 FA Cup campaign underway, and a few minutes later a good chance to take the lead fell to the Gulls, with forward Mitchell May doing just that, as the forward poked home from close-range effort after Ross Wall headed the ball to his strike partner. Fifteen minutes later, it was Ross Wall causing problems for the Kings’ back-line as he received the ball from a defence splitting pass to go one-on-one with the goalkeeper, where he once again found his strike partner Mitchell May who tapped home into an empty net to double our advantage.

Just past the half-hour mark the Hosts had an opportunity to get one back when a through-ball found Luwero who’s cross was to high to cause problems for David Hughes and the Gulls’ back-line. A few minutes later the Kings were on the attack again when Ovington charged forwards into the Gulls’ half, only to see his shot blocked. Shortly after, Mitchell May had an opportunity to complete his hat-trick when he went one-on-one with the keeper, who saved May’s effort well to keep the score two-nil. Around the forty-fifth minute there was a pause in play when forward Mitchell May collided with the goalkeeper on the edge of the area and required treatment. In the minutes after the Hosts’ Henry Dudley sent a strike over the bar and the Referee called a stop to the first half.

Half time: Kings Langley 0-2 Canvey Island

The Referee blew his whistle to signal a start to the second forty-five, and it was goalscorer Mitchell May who got us back underway, a minute after Kings Langley had another chance to half the deficit as George Dudley’s shot was deflected wide for a corner. Soon after, Mitchell May was on the scoresheet again to complete his hat-trick. The forward won the ball back inside the area and calmly finished it into the bottom right corner to seal the tie.

The Gulls had an opportunity to make it four-nil minutes later when Ernest Okoh found himself with the ball out wide and worked well to get into a shooting position, however the best he could do was hit the side-netting. Inside the final twenty minutes Garry Kimble made four substitutions with the first being Michael Bareck making way for Omar Rowe, and soon after Michael Finneran was replaced by Charlie Panton. Just before the last ten minutes the Kings whipped in a dangerous looking cross however no-one could get on the end of it to trouble David Hughes in the Canvey net. Not long after that the Gulls found themselves with a free-kick in a wide area where Conor Hubble’s delivery couldn’t be reached by Ernest Okoh. The final two substitutions were the only highlights of the last ten minutes with Freddie Price replacing Ernest Okoh and a minute later goalscorer Mitchell May made way for a returning Evans Kouassi.

Full-time: Kings Langley 0-3 Canvey Island