Match Report by Jonathan Andrews

Canvey Island were knocked out of the Emirates FA Cup on Saturday by Southern League Premier Central side St Ives Town.

In front of a decent cup crowd of 382 at the Moviestarr Stadium, the visitors were clinical in front of goal, punishing Canvey mistakes to go 3-0 up by half time and effectively wrap up the contest.

It was Canvey who started well in the opening 10 minutes however, their attack having the visiting defence scrambling to get the ball away from their area, though the Gulls lacked in any decisive opportunities to test their goalkeeper.

This allowed the Staints to settle and on 15 minutes, they punished Canvey by taking the lead.

A miscommunication in the midfield meant that Luca Albon was dispossessed under pressure. The loose ball was played out to the left and onto the onrushing Miles Cowling. He did well to beat his marker for pace and, despite Mason making himself big in front of his goal, managed to tuck a away a shot that trickled into the far corner for the opener.

Things got worse for Canvey on 26 minutes as the referee awarded the visitors a penalty, adjudging a foul on the edge of the box to be inside the box. Johny Edwards stepped up and hit a confident strike to wrong foot Mason and put his side in cruise control.

Try as they might, Canvey found no luck in putting together a serious charge for a reply, the visitors well organised back line dealing with any threat coming forward.

The game was effectively over as a contest by half time as the visitors got their third on 45 minutes.

Enoch Andoh, who ran the show for St Ives on the left, managed to pick up on a ball into the area following a play started via a corner. He unlocked the Canvey defence and finished well inside the six yard box to give his side one firm hand on a 3rd Qualifying Round place. The visitors had mustered three clear chances on goal and scored them all.

Canvey did finally manage an attempt on target in first half stoppage time. Luca Albon, who was seeking a goal on his 21st birthday, picked up the ball on edge of the area and launched a fierce strike at goal. It beat everyone but James Goff, the visiting goalkeeper getting a strong hand on the ball to tip it over the bar and preserve his sides clean sheet.

Into the second half and Brad Wellmen brought on Tobi Tinubu and Bradley Sach in place of Odei Martin Sorondo and Jamie Salmon, adding attacking emphasis as the Gulls looked to claw something from the game.

They were improved from their first half showing but, as on Tuesday night, couldn't find the finishing touch to score.

Canvey's main attacking threat came from set plays and Evans Kouassi, the later causing headaches for the visitors defence but his final product often left going wanting by his strikers. His best ball into the box was on 53 minutes, the pass fizzing close to goal but was missed by both Sach and Parish.

Canvey came close again from a set play on 65 minutes. Conor Hubble launched a cross in from a free kick that drifted towards the back post. However, Parish was unable to make the contact needed to bundle the ball home.

Things nearly went from bad to worse for Canvey on 80 minutes as St Ives went on the counter once more. Nabil Shariff had the pace to charge at goal, but Mason came out to meet him. He couldn't stop Shariff racing past him however, though his blushes were spared by Mason Hall, the defender getting a vital foot in to deny the visitors their fourth.

They protested that Bobby Mason had fouled Shariff to deny him a goal. The referee booked the keeper, but only produced a yellow, likely as the St Ives striker had stayed on his feet.

The game fizzled out in the last 10 minutes, but the damage was already done for Canvey, who saw themselves crash out of the Cup for another year.

Brad Wellmen will be looking to see his side bounce back immediately in the league, with quickfire games away at Enfield Town on Tuesday and at home to Corinthian Casuals this Saturday.