Trophy holders Canvey Island booked a fourth round tie against Grantham Town thanks to an Adam Miller wonder goal.

Neither Ryman Premier side could find the breakthrough in normal time but the Gulls midfielder struck from 35 yards with five minutes left of the extra 30 minutes.

But Purfleet had picked up where they left off in Saturday's 2-2 draw against a jaded-looking Canvey side.

Colin McBride's team had come from 2-0 down in the first match to force last night's replay at Ship Lane.

And Fleet were quickest out of the blocks in the first half as they created seven decent chances.

The Islanders' three-man rearguard were exposed several times and it was down to Gulls keeper Ashley Harrison, who was sent off on Saturday, to deny Steve Brown and Steve Marshall, who both missed the original fixture.

Jamie Southon did find a way past Harrison, only to see his effort cleared off the line by Canvey defender Steve Ward.

The visitors got back into the game in the second half with a half-chance from Saturday goalscorer Paul Cobb, while fellow frontman Lee Boylan hit a post before Fleet custodian Alex O'Reilly denied Chris Duffy from a long-range shot.

Gulls manager Jeff King brought on winger Ian Thompson and striker Wayne Vaughan in a bid to break the deadlock.

But the game went into extra time and even the introduction of Neil Gregory for Canvey could not force the issue.

Finally Miller struck just as spectators were readying themselves for a penalty shootout.

Mark Stimson tapped a free-kick to the former Ipswich Town man and he launched a rocket which smashed into the top corner of O'Reilly's goal.

"I doubt if you will ever see a ball hit harder," enthused King about Miller's goal.

"We had plenty of problems because we have not had a choice of players due to injury and that always makes it harder.

"But I'm very pleased with the win and want to thank the players for their commitment. I thought we controlled the second half and extra time."

A clearly distraught McBride said: "I must admit I thought we lost our chance on Saturday and you cannot give good teams like Canvey two chances.

"But we have been absolutely magnificent tonight and have got to take so much out of the game. We failed to take our chances but I really do not feel I can knock my players."

Canvey travel to Dr Martens Eastern Division side Grantham, who were knocked out of the FA Cup by Gulls' Ryman Premier rivals Billericay Town this season, on February 2.

Published Tuesday January 15, 2002