Canvey Island progressed into the 2nd qualifying round of the Buildbase FA Trophy with a narrow 2-1 win against Chipstead at a chilly Park Lane on Tuesday night.

The home side was below par, but showed the determination to grind out a result against their BetVictor Isthmian League South Central opposition.

They made three changes from the side, which had drawn 3-3 in the original tie on Saturday, while Chips had only 12 fit available players on duty
Canvey made a bright start and forced visiting goalkeeper Julian Schwarzer, the son of former-Premier League shot-stopper Mark Schwarzer, who was in attendance, into action with only 20 seconds on the clock. A ball across from the left found their no. 7 inside the box, and, after struggling to get the ball out from under his feet, he managed to get a low shot off, which Schwarzer kept out confidently

Chipstead's first chance came after a great interception & run down the left by Aaron Miller, who set Sam Bell free - he cut inside & saw his shot deflected just wide for a corner

The home side worked Schwarzer again on 12 minutes, when a free kick out to the left was brought under control thanks to a deft touch by the left-back. He played the ball back to the no. 6, who whipped in an equally impressive cross, finding the no. 7 at the front post. He connected with a diving header, which Schwarzer turned behind, diving low to his right.

Canvey took the lead four minutes later, when a cross from the left was palmed down by Schwarzer, as he attempted to clear the danger. However, the ball landed straight at the feet of the right-back, who, after taking a touch, steered the ball into the back of the net from 12 yards.

Chipstead were level on 20 minutes, when Bell robbed the centre-half, rounded the left-back, cut in from the right wing. got his head down and made his way towards goal, placing a low shot past the keeper at his front post to equalise.

The home no. 6 should have put Canvey back in front on 28 minutes, when he rose to get his head to a corner inside the six-yard box. It looked as though the goal would be a formality, but the defender got his angles wrong and ended up heading the ball away from goal rather than on target.

Then Chips nearly scored a second in a similar fashion to their first on 35 minutes, when the Canvey left-back slipped. This time it was Dan Moody who ran towards goal, but, rather than shoot, he opted to cut the ball back for a teammate. However the home centre-half  was on hand to produce a tremendous last-ditch sliding tackle to put the ball behind for a corner.

Canvey were living a charmed life, as the match approached half time, treating possession cheaply and rewarding Chipstead’s patience, who simply had to wait for the error.

On 41 minutes the Canvey no. 10 gave away possession and allowed Chips to attack, with the ball being played into the box for Bell to run onto. However, the keeper did well to spot the danger early, racing off his line and stealing possession at the feet of the attacker.

Then, with the final kick of the half, a deep cross from the right by Sam Clayton with his left foot beat everyone and missed sneaking in at the back post by a matter of inches.

Ten minutes into the second half, Chipstead captain Chris Boulter left the pitch with a dislocated finger, with Canvey playing against ten men for five minutes before Boulter’s return without being able to capitalise.

However, they did regain the lead shortly afterwards when Josh Gallagher was booked for a foul on a Canvey forward by the corner of the penalty area on the left. The left-back delivered a dangerous free kick to the back post, which the no. 7 managed to force home from close range.

The referee had a decisive impact on the match, as it entered the final quarter of an hour, resisting the temptation to blow his whistle and instead trying to keep play flowing

First, on 75 minutes, a Canvey sub played the ball into the feet of their no. 7 just inside the Chipstead half on the right; the winger was being fouled and the assistant referee flagged to indicate so, but he managed to play the ball back for the sub to break clean through on goal. He made his way to the edge of the box, but his shot was kept out by the right boot of Schwarzer.

Four minutes later the man in black kept his composure once again, allowing play to continue after a pull back by the Canvey no. 8 on the left. The ball was played across the edge of the area to former Canvey striker Allan Tait, but his goalbound shot was tipped over the bar by the home keeper.

A controversial moment occurred with three minutes of normal time remaining, when Bell was sent in behind the Canvey defence. The centre-half lunged in with a desperate challenge, which he had to make, fouling his man just outside the box. It looked as though a red card would follow, but the referee determined that there was a defender covering and that a yellow card would suffice. The free kick hit the wall anyway, before Callum Hope appeared to be upended in the penalty area, but similarly no spot-kick resulted, with Canvey being able to see out the remainder of the 90 minutes along with five added minutes to secure a trip to Haringey Borough in the next round, but the Chipstead 12 had battled valiantly