Stadium: Park Lane (Capacity: 4,100)
Table Position: 5th (Isthmian Premier Division)
Top Scorer: Bradley Sach (17)
Manager: Brad Wellmen
Nickname: The Gulls
2022/23 average attendance: 455
On Tuesday night Concord Rangers face Canvey Island in the Quarter Finals of the BBC Essex Senior Cup in what will be the first competitive island derby since 2013.
The Gulls currently play their trade in the Isthmian Premier Division following promotion from step four last season, and so far this term has been equally impressive for Brad Wellmen's men with Canvey currently sat in the playoffs following an impressive 3-0 victory over fellow promotion hopefuls Enfield Town on Saturday.
Canvey booked their place in the final eight by seeing off Bowers & Pitsea by two goals to one following a third round penalty shootout victory over Hashtag United.
The Islanders come into this tie in eye-catching form with the Yellows winning seven of their past eight games in all competitions, with the men from Park Lane losing just once so far this year - a 2-1 defeat at home to Essex rivals Billericay Town.
Despite picking up just one win in nine games in all competitions, Concord can come into this game high on confidence following a respectable 2-2 draw with playoff chasing Tonbridge Angels at the weekend.
The Beach Boys came from behind twice with goals from Mo Bettamer and Ricky Modeste ensuring Rob Small's side got a share of the spoils.
Similarly to their Island rivals, Concord also progressed from round three thanks to a penalty shootout win. Following a 1-1 draw with Aveley, some heroics from goalkeeper Mitchell Beeney secured a 4-2 victory in the shootout.
In round four the Beach Boys were beaten 3-1 by Grays Athletic but were able to advance to the quarters due to their opponents fielding an ineligible player.
The two sides have already met once this season, back in July, when a late Jack Thompson goal secured the Beach Boys a 1-0 win in pre-season.
The rivals last met competitively in the 2012/13 season which saw the Beach Boys do the double over the Gulls with Concord winning 3-0 on home turf on Boxing Day prior to winning 2-0 away from home in April.
The winner of this tie will host Hornchurch who are currently 3rd in the Isthmian Premier Division.
Key Player
Bradley Sach
Canvey's top scorer Bradley Sach comes into this game in a rich vein of form.
The 22 year old has netted 17 goals for the Gulls this term - six of which have come in their past seven games.
Sach helped Canvey achieve promotion last season; netting ten goals following his January arrival from Bowers & Pitsea.
Previously in his career Sach has also represented Boreham Wood and Potters Bar Town.
They've played for both
Rob Girdlestone
The 27 year old centre back has been ever present for Canvey this season, appearing 27 times in all competitions for the Islanders.
Girdlestone came through the youth ranks at West Ham United before switching the claret and blue of the Hammers for the claret and white of Chelmsford City.
After two years in North Essex Girdlestone left the Clarets for Concord. During his time with the Beach Boys the defender was voted Players' Player of the Year and Supporters' Player of the Year.
In 2018 Girdlestone joined Maldon & Tiptree and was part of the Jammers side that stunned Leyton Orient in the FA Cup.
In the summer of 2020 Girdlestone arrived at Canvey.
Evans Kouassi
Experienced striker Evans Kouassi was Canvey's top scorer last season with the Ivorian netting an impressive 34 goals in 57 appearances - and so far this term he has 12 goals to his name.
The 33 year old has played for a host of clubs including: Chelmsford, Hayes & Yeading United, Bishop's Stortford and Wealdstone, before moving to Park Lane in 2020 from Heybridge Swifts.
Kouassi had a brief one month spell with Concord at the beginning of the 2015/16 season.
Odei Martin
Spanish midfielder, Odei Martin, joined Canvey from Concord in the summer following a successful loan spell at Park Lane last season.
Martin began his career with Spanish side Indartsu before moving to Heybridge Swifts in 2018 - helping the Swifts to the playoffs in his debut campaign.
After two years at Scraley Road Martin moved to Concord and was part of the Beach Boys side that reached the 2020 FA Trophy Final.
Form
Canvey Island
W - 2-0 vs Carshalton Athletic (A)
L - 1-2 vs Billericay Town (A)
W - 2-1 vs Haringey Borough (A)
W - 3-0 vs Enfield Town (H)
Concord Rangers
L - 0-1 vs Farnborough (H)
W - 2-1 vs Weymouth (A)
L - 0-1 vs Braintree Town (A)
D - 2-2 vs Tonbridge Angels (A)
Head-to-head
01/04/2013: Canvey Island 0-2 Concord Rangers
26/12/2012: Concord Rangers 3-0 Canvey Island
By Nathan Williams
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