Moneyfields To Wembley: Canvey hoping to shock the Boreham Wood in Monday night FA Cup tie

The FA cup doesn’t just begin when the Premier League teams enter in the 3rd Round proper. It began in summer with the First Qualification Round and two pre qualifying rounds before.

In the truest traditions of the grassroots tournament, we are following a side from the outset and hope to stay with them and be at their games, or those of the side who eliminate them, all the way to Wembley.

This site already sponsors the manager of Carlisle City, James Nichols. So in the interests of geographical balance, we selected a club at the other end of the nation, Portsmouth’s own Moneyfields FC. Our assistant editor Conor Smith claims to have played against their reserves for Netley which may have influenced our choice. 

The decision was cemented by their opposition Aylesbury United. The Ducks are a club with an FA Cup pedigree, who currently play their home games in Chesham, agonisingly far from their own Buckinghamshire home town, but agonisingly close to Wembley which is where this story ends next May.

So we started our series, “Moneyfields to Wembley“ with their visit to Aylesbury United, the Ducks, now playing their home games at the Meadows, home of Chesham United.

The Moneys however lost to London’s oldest club Cray Wanderers. Wanderers went to the West Country on October 17th and won through on penalties against Bristol Manor Farm. Cray then travelled to Canvey Island in a quest to achieve reaching the First Round Proper for the first time in their 160 year history but unfortunately fell just short with a 3-2 defeat sustained.

Since the Fourth Qualifying Round, Prost International has been following Isthmian League North side Canvey Island and as we go into the Second Round Proper, they welcome National League side Boreham Wood at Park Lane in the coming weeks.

Unlike the last time when Canvey played in front of their fans to secure a return to the FA Cup 1st Round, their FA Cup 2nd Round tie with Boreham Wood will be played behind closed doors. Photo: Andy Wilkins

Isthmian North Canvey Island welcome National League opponents Boreham Wood on Monday night in hope they could pull off a shock and secure a spot in the 3rd round of the FA Cup.

The Gulls have spent the last three weeks training thanks to dispensation from the FA whilst also having played two friendlies against Chelmsford City and Dagenham & Redbridge in the last week. This is the hosts’ first competitive game since defeating Banbury United in the last round of the FA Cup.

Boreham Wood come into this having not won in their last four league outings since defeating Southend United in the last round of the FA Cup on penalties. In fact, the Wood’s last victory in 90 minutes came over a month ago from defeating Woking 1-0 on October 27th at home.

Both teams will know their fate in the next round beforehand with the FA Cup Third Round draw taking place prior to the game kicking off.

Canvey will be without their much travelled and well supported Yellow Army in the stands of their Park Lane home tomorrow night. Photo: Andy Wilkins

Team news

Canvey haven’t got any injury issues given their three week break endured as a result of lockdown. The Gulls have been boosted by the dual-registration signing of Ryan Charles who returns to the club from local neighbours Concord Rangers.

No information from Boreham Wood surrounding their squad has been available at the time of writing this.

Comments from Mark Bentley – Canvey Island Manager

“Its been a long few weeks for me with watching and scouting. We’re now thankfully ready and looking forward to Monday.”

Comments from Luke Gerrard – Boreham Wood Manager

No comments have been available at the time of writing this.

Head-to-head

Played: 13
Canvey Island Wins: 8
Draws: 1
Boreham Wood Wins: 3

Preview Analysis From Non-League Correspondent Andy Wilkins

It goes without saying but as much as this isn’t as big of a David-vs-Goliath tie like Portsmouth vs Kings Lynn was by any means earlier in the weekend of FA Cup fixtures, this is still a great opportunity either way for Canvey to take another swipe at higher opposition in the form of Boreham Wood who’s form has gone quite superbly wrong since defeating League Two basement side Southend United a few weeks ago in the last round.

Canvey have made it known that it will be different without the fans in Park Lane knowing if it hadn’t been for COVID, there could’ve been a good 2,000+ crowd watching this tie take place with more potentially watching from the high rise seawall just south of the ground but ultimately, they’ve played three games behind closed doors (one competitive, two friendlies) in the last month and they’ve performed well in those.

Boreham Wood have been at this stage of the FA Cup before but know a victory would see them break their record cup run of only being able to reach Round 2 in their history whilst Canvey know a victory would see them equal their record run to Round three and for the first time since 2001/02.

Whatever happens, expect fireworks either way.

Prost International will be bringing live coverage from this game tomorrow night. Be sure to tune in on BT Sport.

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