CANVEY Island were knocked out of the FA Cup after suffering a 2-0 defeat to Witham Town.

Tyler Corlett and Sam Ashford found the back of the net at the Frost Hire Stadium to knock Danny Heale’s side out of the competition in the preliminary round.

James Walker’s audacious overhead kick was comfortably saved by former Gulls goalkeeper Lewis Moore, as the game got off to a quiet start.

Timothy Monsheju tested Canvey debutant Henry Newcombe.

The striker, who missed a penalty in the defeat against Bowers & Pitsea in midweek, won a flick-on at the near post but the former Gillingham goalkeeper was equal to Monsheju’s close-range effort.

Ashley Dumas came close to breaking the deadlock inside the opening 20 minutes, but the defender’s header from a Sam Collins corner was cleared off the line.

But the visitors took the lead on 21 minutes as the unmarked central defender Corlett headed home an Elliot Ronto free kick.

Danny Heale’s side were finding it difficult to break down a Witham side that have struggled in the early stages of the Isthmian North campaign.

Monsheju came close to doubling the away side’s advantage before half time.

The frontman cut inside Elliott Warren but his curling effort went inches wide of the far post.

Another Canvey debutant, George Craddock, saw his effort just past the half hour mark whistle past the post via a deflection.

The hosts should have been level midway through the second half, as Walker and substitute David Knight missed golden opportunities to find the back of the net for the first time in a Canvey shirt.

Knight, who replaced the injured Ryan Charles almost immediately after the interval, put a dangerous ball across the face of goal.

But the unmarked Walker mistimed his shot and his eventual effort went out for a throw-in.

Just moments later, former Bowers & Pitsea striker Knight was put through on goal but his low effort strayed wide of the target.

But the Gulls could not find an equaliser and will now turns their attentions to improving their form in the Isthmian North.

Ashford scored in stoppage time to seal the visitors’ place in the next round of the FA Cup and leave the Gulls to suffer their second loss in four days.

Canvey Island: Newcombe, Pitty, Nesbitt (Sheehan 83’), Merrifield, Warren, Dumas, Charles (Knight 50’), Collins, Walker, Sykes, Craddock (Gilbey 64’)

Witham Town: Moore, Ahern, Green, Watson, Akins, Corlett, Koranteng (Anderson 90'), Payne, Monsheju (Ashford 68’), Ronto, Adeniji (Imbert 90’)