I have to own up to disgracing myself in the Port Vale press box on Tuesday night as Canvey wrote the latest, and greatest, chapter in their wonderful history book of the past decade.

When striking star Wayne Vaughan broke through the Nationwide League Division Two side's defence to put Gulls 2-0 up and into the second round of the FA Cup for the first time in their history, I changed from impartial reporter to number one supporter with a speed that Clark Kent swapping his day job for Superman outfit would have been proud of.

And I make no apologies for the way I leapt up waving a fist in the air and let out a resounding "YES" with a vocal dexterity that the players themselves may have heard on the pitch.

For a quarter of a century now I've reported on the non-league soccer scene in south-east Essex and I've witnessed good times and bad at Park Lane over the years.

A decade ago they were on the verge of extinction, but it's been glory all the way since night-club boss Jeff King took over as manager in the early 1990s.

I must admit to having had fears that Gulls might be reaching a pinnacle over the past year or so, but after witnessing the extraordinary events in the Potteries last night, I for one wouldn't bank against them not only making the Nationwide Conference, but also one day in the not too distant future becoming a Football League outfit.

Certainly Port Vale, despite being hauled back from 4-2 ahead to a 4-4 final scoreline in the last two minutes in the original encounter at Park Lane ten days ago, failed to appreciate the magic that surrounds the Island's football team.

As King himself said after this astonishing affair, which Canvey eventually won 2-1 after extra-time: "Port Vale were disrespectful to us and that hurt.

"Once we earned the replay up at their ground they started to try and cut the admission prices, which had been settled long before, which suggested they thought people wouldn't want to pay what they usually do to watch us.

"Then, when we arrived at the ground tonight, we didn't even have a programme to ourselves. They'd made it a double issue with next week's LDV Cup match with Notts County.

"That really got the players' backs up and Port Vale won't have to worry about producing any more FA Cup programmes now will they?"

King was understandably ecstatic at the way his side took control in the extra half-hour - confounding critics who suggested that, on one of the biggest playing surfaces in the country, his part-timers would wilt as the action wore on.

Said first goal hero Neil Gregory: "Normally you would expect the full-time team's greater fitness to play a part as the game wears on, but it didn't happen at our place and certainly didn't work out here. That's got to be a credit to our coaching staff and the way they prepare us for games."

The work they've been doing on their fitness had defensive hero Steve Ward groaning: "I suppose that means they'll have us out on that running track again."

Schoolteacher Ward's football career has only recently become a topic of major conversation among his pupils as he works in Gravesend.

He said: "All this publicity with our Cup run has let more people know about my football. We knew it was going to be tough up here tonight, but suddenly after about 25 minutes it dawned on me that we were in with a real chance."

The forthcoming Cup battle with Southend presents particular problems for Gulls' skipper Steve Tilson, who combines life on the Island with being director of the School of Excellence at the Roots Hall club he graced as a player for ten years.

"If we beat Southend I suppose I'll get the sack," he joked. "I'm certainly going to be in for a fair bit of ribbing from the youngsters until the game gets here. Let's face it though, you couldn't ask for a bigger game locally."

It's difficult to write about the night of so many visiting stars without making 20-year-old Canvey striker Wayne Vaughan a central figure in the galaxy. I firmly believe that the one time Tottenham academy star and former England youth player will eventually have interested big clubs making major bids for his services and the speed and guile he showed in outwitting top class opposition here could have prospective buyers having to talk telephone numbers.

Vaughan, a constant threat throughout, twice forced highly-rated Vale keeper Mark Goodlad into breathtaking saves and also hit the woodwork and admitted: "At one stage I thought it might be one of those nights. That's why, when I got that late breakaway, I was never going to pass.

"I could hear someone shouting but I only had thoughts on going for goal. Fortunately I scored."

By Dick Marshall

Reporter's e-mail: dick.marshall@notes.newsquest.co.uk

Right Going through - Neil Gregory tries to evade the challenge of Michael Twiss

Left Room with phew - Canvey's players, staff and fans relax and celebrate in the changing room after their historic win at Vale park last night. Pictures: LUAN MARSHALL

By Dick Marshall

Reporter's e-mail: dick.marshall@notes.newsquest.co.uk

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