Barnet launched the first real attacking threat of this Bank Holiday bonanza after eight minutes when midfielder Dwayne Lee fired in a long-range effort which home goalkeeper Danny Potter kept out with a full stretch dive.
Coming through - Ben Sedgemore blasts through the midfield leaving Barnet players in his wake Picture: ROBIN WOOSEY
Canvey retaliated with a Ben Chenery free-kick being headed on by the masterful Neil Gregory and Lee Boylan just failing to connect before Ben Sedgemore's 30-yarder caught a deflection and Gregory fired just off target.
That was after 23 minutes, but the 500 visiting fans who caught the effects of a pre-match downpour at the open sea wall end, forget their drenching four minutes later.
Dean Sinclair burst down the right hand side, brushed off a challenge from Dave McGhee, and fired in a vicious shot from a difficult angle which beat the despairing dive of Potter and hit the far corner of the net.
Canvey's attempts to retaliate saw Chris Duffy baulked at the bear post by goalkeeper Ricky Millard, but Barnet, and £23,000 striker Liam Hatch in particular then missed two great chances of sewing the game up.
After 29 minutes he broke clear and, with only Potter to beat, shot wide from 18 yards with his left foot. Then, little more than 60 seconds later, he cut in from the left and fired wide of the far post.
At this stage Canvey were looking a little weary at the back and the duo of Sinclair and Lee were the dominant midfield force. But Canvey fought back with Duffy beginning to enjoy some good penetrating runs down the left, even if his crossing at times left a little to be desired.
Gulls came closest to scoring in the opening half when Sedgemore, again working manfully in midfield, fed Gregory who whipped in a superb 25-yarder which Millard tipped over the top.
Having lost Boylan with a leg knock, Canvey battled back regardless and a Duffy cross, helped on by Ollie Berquez, saw Gregory volley just over. Then, as the game moved into injury-time, Millard was forced into an acrobatic save from Sedgemore's header.
Published Tuesday August 31, 2004
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