THE BUBBLE HAS BURST
BUT FANS STILL CELEBRATE WITH A HANGOVER!

So OK, we're out of the cup.  It might have been nice to meet Kingstonian in the next round, but we lost today and, to be fair, we weren't the best team.  Southend were always slightly better than Canvey, although it was a close run thing at times.  The pitch was terrible - little better than Enfield's - and whereas under normal circumstances that might suit the non-league team, Canvey were unable to play their usual style of tip and touch football.  Southend, on the other hand, were quick off the mark and managed to control the midfield.

Such was the respect for Canvey that when Jeff King walked around the pitch just before the kick-off, he was met with spontaneous applause from both sets of fans.  Come win, lose or draw, this was Canvey's day.  They had earned the right to be here today and the Yellow Army, all 4,500 of them, were proud to be part of the occasion.  If only they could pull off a result, but does lightning really strike twice?

The rain fell in bucketfuls and players couldn't be sure if passes would come at them normally, if they would stop in the mud or if they would spin past and into the distance.  Southend seemed happier with these conditions and no matter how much Canvey tried, they could not get a real grip on the situation.  It was in the midfield that they found the most difficulty and after all, this is the engine room of any football team.

But don't read into those comments that Canvey were outplayed.  They more than held their own for most of the game.  Southend's two goals were well taken but all credit to the part-timers, they never, ever gave up.  Defeat was never on the agenda.  They kept battling and fighting and refused to roll over and die.  The defence in particular stood their ground and were very well organised, catching Southend off-side on many occasions.  But it was very difficult for anyone to hold their feet in the slippery conditions and as the rain came down things just got worse and worse.

Ashley Harrison was called upon to take some useful looking crosses out of the air and he found the conditions difficult.  In the end he resorted to punching balls away which was probably the best tactic, under the circumstances.  He did pull off one or two spectacular saves, one in particular kept Russell Williamson off the scoresheet on 22 minutes when Ash did especially well to hold on to a ball that skidded off the slippery surface.  

Canvey were missing Mick Bodley in the middle, but don't tell that to 'Ginger Sex God' Steve Ward.  Without doubt he was the Man of the Match today.  Nobody, from either side, had better positional play and he never once pulled out of a tackle.  He played out of his skin and the reception he received when he walked into the Park Lane clubroom after the game showed just what the fans thought of him.  

The first half finished with Southend in the lead but fans hoped that the Port Vale legacy might kick into play during the second 45 minutes.  Southend were coping better with the conditions and their sharpness and pace was the difference.  Some cup games depend on that special ingredient called 'Magic'.  Sadly, it didn't happen today and Southend were in the lead on merit.  Canvey learnt to their cost that there is no reward for grit and determination.  Nor for refusing to give up.  But in the end, it was not

Canvey were forced to play deep and this gave them the disadvantage of not having enough men up front when the ball did come out of defence.  Neil Gregory did extremely well against the 6' giants in Southend's defence, but his telling little flick-ons didn't work as well today as they have done in the past.  Wayne Vaughan never stopped running and Sammy Cooper distributed the ball well.  As the second half got under way, the game did open up more in the middle and one sensed that Canvey might well pull the game back.  But they never went into overdrive, which was what was needed.  

On 79 minutes Ben Abbey took the Shrimpers into a two-nil lead and it wasn't until the final ten minutes of the game that Canvey got themselves together and showed what they are really made of.  They had a spell where they were running the game and when Andy Jones jinxed his way into the penalty area, before unleashing a superb cross that (eventually) Wayne Vaughan converted, fans thoughts went back to the Port Vale home game.  Could we do it once again in the dying seconds?  There was a penalty appeal turned down and some near misses, but not that elusive equalising goal.  David Webb must have sighed an enormous sigh of relief when the final whistle went.

Congratulations to Southend.  It was an afternoon to remember, in spite of the disappointing score :-(  and the wonderful family atmosphere of a packed Roots Hall stadium will remain in the memory for a long, long time.  For Canvey it's now back to Ryman Premier League where they have the slightly difficult task of winning the championship.  Not to mention getting to the final of the FA Trophy and picking up the Essex Senior Trophy along the way.

The FA Cup bubble has burst, but there are many more dreams to chase before the season comes to an end.

Match Report by Merv.

Weather Conditions: Wettest day of the year + brilliant sunshine = mixed weather, but very heavy underfoot.

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