Ware 2 Canvey Island 2 (Canvey Island won 7-6 on penalties)

Buildbase FA Trophy 2nd Qualifying Round, Saturday October 9th

My latest FA Trophy Road To Wembley tie saw me at Wodson Park for Ware against Canvey Island in a 2nd Qualifying Round tie, and after a pulsating second period, the visitors won a dramatic shoot out to progress.

Hosts Ware had been given a bye into this round, whilst Canvey had beaten Coggeshall Town in convincing style in the previous round to set up this tie, and both sides had began well in their respective divisions too, so this was fancied to be a close but entertaining contest in front of a very healthy crowd in the Hertfordshire sunshine.

It was the Southern League One Central hosts who started the better, and they should have taken the lead after just ten minutes when a good move ended with striker Taufee Skandari somehow side footing wide of the post, and then Bobby Mason had to beat away an effort from Liam Dulson and also tip over hosts skipper's Louis Rose's header.

Canvey's main threat came down the right through Evans Kouassi, and he twice sent in dangerous balls across goal that striker Matt Price couldn't get on the end of, whilst Price himself almost punished the hosts after a wayward clearance ended with his near post effort being beaten away by Bradley Robinson, but the hosts had certainly had the better of the opening forty five minutes and would have been disappointed not to have held a lead at the break.

Ware began the second half with a couple of more openings, Skandari fired an effort which went inches wide of the near post, and then some pin ball inside the Canvey box just about saw the visitors clear, but five minutes into the second period Canvey grabbed the lead when a loose ball fell to Connor Hubble inside the box and he fired home to send the Canvey Ultras behind the goal wild.

That lead lasted only six minutes though as Ware finally found the net after a corner from the left saw Mason fail to claim and centre half David Kendall had the simple task of heading home at the back post, but, Canvey wasted little time in restoring their lead on the hour mark after Price managed to get in behind and after winning a challenge with keeper Robinson, swept the ball home, three goals in ten second half minutes, the tie had exploded into life.

Canvey were dealt a big blow when their in form striker Price pulled up with a groin injury, so he had to be replaced, and the visitors were beginning to sit deeper and deeper as Ware piled on the pressure to try and find another leveller, and after the Canvey goal had led a charmed life once again, the hosts finally grabbed a deserved equaliser when skipper Rose volleyed home from close range, setting up a grandstand finish.

The last few minutes saw frantic end to end action and saw both keeper pull of excellent saves, but the game was to end all square, and this tie would be settled by a penalty shootout, and it turned out to be a rather dramatic one as well.

Canvey saw their first two penalties saved brilliantly by Robinson, and with Ware netting both of theirs they opening up a 2-0 lead, Mason then saved and then after he saved another later on in the shoot out, it was 3-3 after five penalties each, and after Mason saved again, his third of the shoot out, Canvey had the chance to win it but missed after Robinson stuck up an arm for his third save of the shoot out. 

The next six penalties were all converted, leaving it 6-6, Mason then saved for a fourth time meaning it was match point number two for The Gulls, and no other than keeper Mason himself stepped up to ram home the winning penalty and send Canvey Island through to the next round, brilliant drama and well worth the trip.

Ware will count themselves very unlucky to have lost this tie, but they failed to ram home their advantage when they had the chances to score, and keeper Robinson will feel aggrieved to have lost a shoot out he saved three penalties in, but Mr Mason starred in the shoot out for the visitors and Canvey battled their way though some difficult moments to net themselves a place in Monday's draw.

Full time Ware 2 Canvey Island 2 (Canvey Island won 7-6 on penalties)