Canvey moved confidently into the last 16 of the FA Umbro Trophy on Saturday - but they needed a superb late save from goalkeeper Ashley Harrison to make sure.

Despite dominating their Black Country hosts throughout Gulls had only Steve Parmenter's 32nd-minute strike to show for it.

And they almost paid the price with ten minutes left when home striker Lee Rollason powered a header towards goal that Harrison plucked spectacularly from his top left-hand corner.

An equaliser would definitely been hard on Canvey. They outplayed the Dr Martens League Western Division leaders from the kick-off with Steve Tilson taking charge with his confident passing.

In fact, but for Bilston keeper Matt Boswell and the cock-eyed finishing of Neil Gregory, Canvey would be celebrating a more handsome victory.

Gulls boss Jeff King noted as much afterwards when he said: "I felt that we were easily the better side and it could have been two or three nil. Ashley made a great save at the end but it was their only shot on goal. The back four were outstanding."

The game burst into life after 15 minutes when a shot from Bilston's Leon Jackson took a deflection and was tipped round the post by Harrison.

From the resulting corner Gulls swept downfield and Tilson's terrific first-time lobbed pass over the defence set up Andy Jones for a one on one with the keeper.

Unfortunately, Gulls all-time record scorer - the lone survivor of Canvey's 2-0 FA Vase win over the Steelmen in 1993 - hogged the ball too long and Boswell saved bravely at his feet.

Two minutes later Tilson's inswinging corner reached defender Mick Bodley, whose powerful header was kicked off the line.

A Canvey goal seemed imminent and it came, inevitably via Tilson's involvement, in the 32nd minute.

The midfield man's free-kick flew over the defence towards Boswell, who failed to gather under pressure from Jones. The ball fell into the path of left-back Craig Davison, who centred for the unmarked Parmenter to shoot Gulls ahead.

Half-time came with the Islanders leading 1-0 and they opened the second-half threatening to add to their tally.

Gregory somehow hit the side netting from close range on 54 minutes and then miskicked in the box following a cross from Parmenter.

The more Gulls missed, the more the home side grew in confidence and they gradually started to create chances of their own.

Ben Chenery, part of the Gulls defence which muted Bilston's 21-goal top scorer Scott Voice, made a vital interception at the feet of Stuart Leeding in the 71st minute.

Harrison then came to the rescue in the 80th minute when he saved Rollason's header in the top left-hand corner. He also stopped a Rollason shot with his legs in the dying moments.

But Canvey were good value for their win and their travelling fans in a crowd of 536 will now be dreaming of an eventual return to the Midlands for the Villa Park final in May.

(Right) Goal hero - Steve Parmenter wheels away in delight after scoring the goal that puts Canvey into the last 16 of the FA Trophy

(Left) Defensive stalwarts - Canvey's Ben Chenery (left) and Steve Ward keep a close eye on Bilston striker Lee Rollason in the FA Trophy clash in Bilston. Rollason is also seen being denied by Gulls keeper Ashley Harrison (below right)

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