The Scholars and Canvey Island will have to do it all again on Tuesday after an entertaining 2-2 draw in The Emirates FA Cup 2nd Qualifying Round at The Frost Financial Stadium, Canvey Island.

Taking the lead on two occasions the scholars will probably feel that they could have won the tie in the final 15 minutes but could not find a way past home custodian Connor Gough.

Match day weather conditions were somewhat unusual with a strong wind blowing from off the land towards the sea and when the home side won the toss they chose to play with the win in the first period. But it was the visitors who shocked the home support in the 2nd minute when a flowing move saw Danny Hart pick out the run of right back Billy Baird. He drove to the touchline and checked back onto his left foot producing a pin point cross to the far post where ASHLEY NATHANIEL-GEORGE dived between defenders to head home at the far post.

It was the scholars who had the next chance and could feel unlucky they didn’t extend their lead. Once again some slick passing saw Chris Doyle wriggle his way into the ‘Gulls’ penalty area and although at an acute angle drilled a right foot shot towards the far post which saw home keeper Connor Gough produce a fingertip save to deflect for a corner.

The home team first chance came in the 16th minute when a free kick was driven into the visitors penalty area but home skipper Lee O’Leary saw his header go wide of the far post The gulls came even closer in the 25th minute, a long ball causing confusion in the scholars defense and a mix up between Sean Grace and keeper Ben Goode saw home striker Martin Tuohy latch onto the loose ball and placed a shot goalwards but Carl McCluskey read the danger and got back to clear the ball away for a corner.

The scholars nearly increased their lead in the 30th minute when a long ball caused similar uncertainty this time in the gull’s defense and the keeper punch clear fell to Danny Hart whose 20 yard first time effort flew wide of the far post much to the stranded keeper’s relief.

As the game moved into extra time at the end of the first half the home team grabbed an equalizer. For the first time the scholar’s midfield got split and as gulls skipper Lee O'Leary slipped the ball to forward Martin Touhy he managed to shrug off the challenge of Sean Grace and planted a chipped shot over Ben Goode to find the back of the net.

The Scholars started the second half brightly with the wind in their back's and the first of several long range efforts came in the 52nd minute when Chris Doyle’s jinking run picked out Danny Hart some 25 yards out who saw his shot flash over the bar.

These were followed by efforts from Eion Casey in the 55th, Chris Doyle who shot straight at the keeper in the 57th and then another Danny Hart effort flashing wide some two minutes later.

‘Gulls’ striker Martin Tuohy thought he had put his team into the lead in the 64th minute when keeper Ben Goode misjudged a punched clearance when under pressure, and as Tuohy shot once again defender Carl McCluskey headed clear off the line to kept the scores level.

The scholars retook the lead in the 68th minute. There looked to be no danger as Danny Hart was forced wide on the right but he delivered an exquisite cross to the far post where strike partner EION CASEY gratefully headed home at the far post.

Ashley Nathaniel-George produced another long range effort which went wide before the home team saw a free kick from Joey May saved by Ben Goode in the 74th minutes from 25 yards out.

The Canvey equaliser arrived in the 75th minute when a similar move to the scholar’s second goal saw a right wing cross from Gilbey swept towards the scholar’s far post and striker Tony Stokes rose to head the ball home from close range.

The final 15 minutes saw the scholar probe for a winner with the best chance coming in the 82nd minute when Joe Bennett cut inside on the left to produce a 20 yard curled effort which home keeper Connor Gough was grateful to push wide of the far post to safety.

Six additional minute failed to produce a winner so both teams return to Potters Bar on Tuesday for a hard earned reply..

Scholars: Ben Goode, Billy Baird, Gary Jones, Carl McCluskey, Sean Grace, Ryan Forde, Joe Bennett, Chris Doyle, Danny Hart (sub: Dave Lawrence 91 min), Eion Casey, Ashley Nathaniel-George (sub: Luke Warner-Eley 84 mins),

Man of the Match: EION CASEY