Grays looked to take the game to the Gulls as they pushed forward and a cross by David Cowley found Jean-Michel Sigere clear but he only managed to push it wide. Canvey were not to be out done and forced an early corner and Jason Hallett scooped the ball over in front of goal.

Grays started to push and Joe Sweeney hit the ball wide as the game flowed end to end. The away defence held tight as they were under pressure and looked to hit on the break. Andy Hall saved from a shot by Danny Heale and a clever run by Michael Alaile almost found a way through. A long clearance by James Russell found Hallett and he ran wide to hit a shot across goal only to see it go wide.

Joao Carlos was starting to find his form and his pace took him past Alaile several times. Midway through the half Carlos ran clear and was brought down in the box to win a penalty. Harry Agombar stepped up to hit the ball home to give the Blues a deserved lead. Grays were in no mood to slacken and Sigere found himself clear after a one-two with Sweeney but a solid tackle by Steve Sheehan cleared the danger, another run by Sweeney found Carlos clear and his shot was saved by Russell with the Gulls defence flat-footed.

Canvey found space on the right and a run and pass from Leon Gordon arrived at the feet of Heale and he hit a superb shot on the run from 30 yards to see the ball fly into the net to beat Hall and level the game. Grays upped the pace to try to get back in front and an intelligent back header from Sweeney lobbed Russell but the ball ran just wide of the goal. Kenny Beaney hit a long pass to find Cowley but Sweeney was judged off side when clear, but as hard as they tried Grays could not add to the score.

The half ended with the home side pushing forward and on the ascendancy.

The Gulls came out for the second half with a purpose and started brightly. A Kenny Dobinson free kick was charged down but Hallett hit the loose ball wide to give Grays a scare. Lee Flynn hit a long pass down the left and a mistake by the Canvey defence allowed Carlos to run into the box only to be brought down by Rob King for another penalty, again converted by Agombar to restore the lead seven minutes into the half.

Although not a dirty game the half started to get niggly with emotions running high and the referee had to talk to one or two players and the captains to calm things down.

Carlos found space to run free and hit the ball into the path of Sigere but his shot was cleared off the line by King with Russell beaten as the game flowed again. A run and cross by Matt Game put Hall under pressure he was adjudged to have fouled John Curran for the ref to award the third penalty of the game. King stepped up to hit the ball wide of Hall to level it once again.

Canvey were starting to control midfield and Beaney and Agombar were working hard to get the ball. Beaney intercepted the ball and put a testing pass to Sweeney and his pass through saw Carlos hit the ball only to see it go just wide of the far post. Jared Small came on for Sweeney to add pace and Grays forced a series of corners but could not find a way through as the game moved into the last minutes.

Heale picked up the ball from a long clearance and hit the ball to Curran but his lobbed shot went just wide of the post. Cowley found himself clear but his hurried shot went harmlessly over as the game moved towards its conclusion but with one more cruel twist. From a Canvey free kick King hit the ball goal-wards for the ball to hit the hand of Craig Pope and another penalty be awarded. King stepped to send Hall the wrong way and conclude the scoring and put Canvey through to the next round.

The final whistle brought to an end a pulsating cup tie full of incident, four penalties and end to end play with Canvey progressing to the next round.

Grays Athletic: - Andy Hall, Lee Flynn (Louis Dennis 90), Bradley Thomas, Grant Cooper, Craig Pope, David Cowley (Danny Bunce 82), Harry Agombar, Kenny Beaney, Joao Carlos, Jean-Michel Sigere, Joe Sweeney (Jared Small 75)

Subs not used: - Charlie Brien, Stanley Muguo