Canvey Island are bidding to cap a tremendous season, during which they are looking increasingly likely to win the Ryman League First Division title, by capturing the Essex Senior Cup for the first time in their history.

The fact that the showpiece game final will be played at Southend United's home on April 26 is an extra spur to Gulls' stars such as Steve Tilson, Paul Williams and Danny O'Shea, all of whom played significant parts of their full-time pro careers at Roots Hall.

Another ex-Blues favourite, Keith Dublin, is ineligible for the Islanders in this competition, which sees Jeff King's men travelling to Clacton for tonight's semi-final.

Dublin apart, Canvey are likely to have a full-strength squad to choose from. With Clacton setting the pace at the top of the Jewson League First Division Gulls are unlikely to have an easy task.

However, it will be a major surprise if the Islanders do not win through to a final date with the winners of the Leyton Orient v Heybridge Swifts semi-final, being played next week.

Canvey have already disposed of Romford, Chelmsford City and Barking in this competition.

In fact, King's men are still on the trail of two County trophies as they entertain fellow Division One side Leyton Pennant in the Essex Thames-side Trophy third round in a fortnight's time.

The cup action represents a welcome break from the pressures of battling for a spot in the Premier Division next season for King's men, who are next in league action at Uxbridge on Saturday.

However, those tensions are beginning to ease as Saturday's victory at lowly Berkhamsted took them seven points clear at the top with three games in hand on closest rivals Braintree.

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