Bilston Town - You've Been Tangoed!

Canvey Island came out wearing an unusual combination of their navy blue and red away shirts and their royal blue home shorts and socks. Bilston playing in orange and white started the game rather level with good end-to-end play, but as the game wore on Canvey gained the upper hand.

Canvey's first corner came on four minutes, and after meeting a lot of heads from both teams Bilston did well to clear the ball out. Bilston's first shot came on eight minutes when a good run down the right wing was crossed in but cleared to their number six, Brett Wilcox who drove the ball about two foot left of Ashley Harrison's goal.

With Bilston trying to get back as much out of the game as Canvey, a long ball from Ashley was well brought down by Andy Jones who ran full pace towards goal, only to be brought down about eight yards from the penalty area. Canvey fans expected the ref to blow up for the obvious foul, but no, 'play on' said Mr M. Ives. With the foul not being granted to Canvey, Bilston mounted a counter-attack and a half volley from Scott Voice, the Bilston number nine drifted straight into Harrison's arms.

Bilston were gradually getting back into the game and a good run by Leon Jackson was gifted with a low hard shot that took a deflection, and was well parried away by the quick reflexes of Ashley. At the other end Andy Jones was still making his good runs forward, one such run gave Jonah a clear run on goal, he tried to take the ball around Bilston 'keeper Matthew Boswell, but Boswell did well to get low and pinched the ball from Jonah's feet.

On nineteen minutes Adam Tanner was substituted by Mark Stimson, having gained a groin injury. A minute later Bilston were lucky not to be one-nil down through an own goal by Jason Smith, who unfortunately for the Canvey fans put it out for a corner. Steve Tilson replaced Adam Tanner as the corner taker and his cross was met by the head of Mick Bodley who was unlucky to have his attempt on goal cleared about a foot away from the goal line.

Twenty-three minutes gone and Steve Parmenter was brought down in the same way as Andy Jones was earlier, but this time the referee gave the tackle in favour of Canvey. Tilly took the free kick and Andy Jones did very well to get up higher than all the defenders that were taller than him, but he headed over the bar.

A succession of quick corners also built up pressure on Bilston but Gregory came closest with a header over the bar. A handball just outside the penalty area by Bilston lead to a fumble in the penalty area with Matthew Boswell dropping the ball it eventually went out for a corner, but it lead to nothing.

On thirty-four minutes a good build up in the midfield led to several shots, one such shot was deflected straight to the "Crow" Craig Davidson, who put a beautiful pass across the goal mouth, straight to the feet of Steve Parmenter who from only two yards out poked the ball into an open goal.

Straight from the restart Bilston stepped up a gear, and a very hard tackle on Mark Stimson, gave number five, Gavin Stone a nice big yellow card. Due to Bilston's rampage on the pitch the Canvey defence had to work more than they had to in the whole game, with another header from Leon Jackson grasped by Ashley, Mick Bodley went down injured, but managed to keep playing.

With the halftime whistle drawing nearer Neil Manton, Bilston's number four was booked for dissent.

At the start of the second half Canvey gained four corners in succession, although no threatening chances were executed. Canvey were really looking for a second goal to add to the score line and clearly one of the biggest chances came when Andy Jones made a great run down the right and shot the ball across the face of the goal to Neil Gregory who hit the ball low from close range but into the side netting, and by now everyone could understand Neil's frustration.

The same situation happened only a minute later when it was Gregory again who miss-hit the ball and the chance was wasted, (it wasn't going to be his lucky day). On sixty-six minutes a deliberate shot at Gregory winded the Canvey forward and gave Scott Voice, Bilston's third yellow card of the game. By now pressure was piling on both teams to score, Canvey to increase their lead and Bilston to gain an equaliser.

Seventy-two minutes, Bilston made a double substitution. Kris Sage and Danny Williams (Bilston's only player to survive in the squad from our last encounter, Andy Jones being our only player to stay with his club), and Nathan Rose-Laing and Mark Clifton replacing them. Three minutes later Canvey made their second substitution with Wayne Vaughan, wearing number seventeen replacing Andy Jones.

Wayno immediately made an impression on the game making good runs through the centre, but on seventy-seven minutes if Vaughan had taken time with the ball a sweet goal could have been on the card, but no he missed a sitter. Now Bilston were really troubling Canvey and all the fans thought that an equaliser would be well on its way. A free kick for Bilston on the edge of the box really put Ashley to the test and in his cool, calm manner knocked the ball onto the bar for a corner.

Bilston knew they were beginning to trouble Canvey and with only minutes remaining Gavin Stone went down injured adding time to the clock which Canvey didn't need at all, but they managed to hold on and it finished, Bilston Town 0 Canvey Island 1. After the game The Ginger Sex God - Steve Ward ran towards the fans with his arms in the air with joy, his expression summed it all up, very happy and very relieved. Especially as he and Gregory did Canvey proud by representing the England non-league XI last Tuesday.

Canvey are now in the last sixteen of the draw, beyond the furthest we've ever been in the F.A. Trophy.

Match report by Matt. Pictures by Ian

Weather Conditions: Mild afternoon, occasional shower.

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