Lowestoft Town exited the Emirates FA Cup with barely a whimper as Canvey Island cruised to an easy passage into the second qualifying round, writes Terry Lynes.

Despite fielding the same 11 that gained a creditable victory over Corby in the previous round on this occasion the physicality of the Seagulls proved to be too much for the Trawlerboys’ defence.

The writing was on the wall inside the opening minute as a free kick from the left saw a Rob Girdlestone header crash against the Lowestoft crossbar before being scrambled away.

Lowestoft struck back almost immediately but Owen Murphy’s skidding drive from 20 yards was well held by Sam Jackson.

Canvey were always looking the more threatening and they eventually broke the deadlock in the 31st minute.

There seemed little danger as Evans Kouassi picked up the ball near the right corner flag before moving into the penalty area, jinking past numerous defenders who seemed reluctant to challenge before clipping the ball past Luke Holt.

Any real hopes of a Lowestoft comeback were ended four minutes before the break when a suicidal square pass from Harvey Sayer sent Bradley Sach clear one-on-one with Holt to increase the Seagulls lead.

Canvey added their third goal 10 minutes after the break as Kouassi again caused problems down the left and his low cross was turned in by Connor Hubble from close range.

Lowestoft sent on Sam Johnson and Rob Eagle but it was to little avail as Canvey continued to ease through the Lowestoft defence at will.

Their fourth goal came in the 74th minute with the Lowestoft defence non existent as Luis Deslandes sent in a driven free kick which went through to an unmarked Jamie Salmon at the far post to tap in from close range.

Lowestoft did get a consolation goal in the 77th minute but even that needed an assist from Canvey as Sayer’s free kick seemed to get a big deflection to end up in the net.

Canvey’s final goal in the last minute typified Lowestoft’s performance as Deslandes collected the ball on the halfway line and he ran through unchallenged before blasting past Holt.

TEAMS
CANVEY ISLAND: Jackson, Crowhurst (sub Akilbere 54), Arrowsmith, Salmon, Hall, Girdlestone, E Johnson, Hubble, Sach (sub Deslandes 70), Edwards, Kouassi (sub Mvemba 59). Subs (not used): Tinubu, Ntim, Brown-Bampoe, Ronto.

LOWESTOFT TOWN: Holt, Norman, Murphy (ub S Johnson 57), McIntosh (Sub Eagle 67), Cole, Ruffles, Haylock, Hinton, Reed, Sayer, Hipperson, Subs (not used) Nunn, Burwood, White, Fitzgerald.

REFEREE: Mr T Breen

ATTENDANCE: 335

Report by Terry Lynes