Canvey will be without top scorer Wayne Vaughan tomorrow (Saturday) as they bid for a place in the semi-finals of the top non-league knockout competition in the country.

Vaughan, the ex-Spurs academy youngster who's netted 20 goals in all games for the Park Lane outfit this term, is serving a one-match ban under the bookings "totting up" system, having collected the caution which took him "over the top" in the FA Umbro Trophy fifth-round tie with Stevenage at home a fortnight ago.

After a 1-1 draw at home, Canvey beat the Nationwide Conference giants on a penalty shoot-out in the replay to earn tomorrow's quarter-final home date with another side from that competition, Telford United, who boast the best Trophy record of any club in the country.

The Shropshire side have won the Trophy three times previously and got through to this stage with a 3-2 win at Canvey's Ryman League Premier Division neighbours Billericay Town.

Vaughan's absence will undoubtedly lead to a return for Canvey's all-time record scorer Andy Jones, the club's longest-serving player, who has been sidelined with a knee injury for the past few weeks.

Jones, although having only made 12 starts this term, has knocked in nine goals and had been keeping Vaughan out of the side on merit until his injury a few weeks ago.

It looks an occasion heaven-sent for the man who has scored well over 200 goals in a fabulous ten-year spell with the Park Lane club and the Islanders are also likely to be boosted by the return of highly-experienced midfielder Mark Stimson.

Meanwhile, Gulls' boss Jeff King has laughed off suggestions from his Telford counterpart Jake King that the Conference side will be travelling to Park Lane as underdogs.

He said: "To be honest it's all a bit of kidology . . . just as it would be if I described ourselves as underdogs.

"I'm expecting a very tight game and I certainly don't think Telford will be taking us lightly after our win over Stevenage.

"To be honest I don't really think Stevenage were too confident. I think it's a case of us being capable of a lot more than they expect and that was exactly the same when we beat Port Vale away in the FA Cup."

Best known player in the Telford camp is striker Chris Malkin, a £250,000 buy from Millwall by Blackpool five years ago. He's likely to share the main goal threat with ex-Notts County golden boot winner Gary Martindale and £50,000 record signing from Wrexham Jake Edwards.

With Telford only likely to be followed by about 150 fans, Canvey are hoping that a partisan 1,000 crowd will get behind them vocally and help them through to the last four.

(Right) Out - top scorer Wayne Vaughan misses the big match due to suspension which costs him the chance of adding to his 20-goal tally for the term

(Left) In - Andy Jones could be celebrating another landmark in his fabulous ten-year Canvey career

Pictures: LUAN MARSHALL

Islanders prove a good bet for FA Trophy success

Bookmakers Ladbrokes are backing Canvey to continue their FA Umbro Trophy glory story with victory over Telford.

They rate them at 11/8 with the visitors 8/5 and a draw 11/5.

A full list of the odds can be obtained by contacting any Ladbrokes shop.

By Dick Marshall

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

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