Canvey Island here we come!

12:45pm Wednesday 21st December 2005

SALISBURY City will have to overcome Nationwide Conference side Canvey Island if they are to progress further in the FA Trophy.

Canvey have been one of the most consistent sides in the Trophy in recent years, beating Forest Green Rovers in 2001 at Villa Park and finishing runners up to Hednesford Town in 2004 at the same venue.

But City manager Nick Holmes insists he is relishing the trip to their Park Lane home on Saturday, January 14, which is Whites' reward for beating Harlow Town 1-0 at the weekend.

Salisbury were reduced to ten men after Alex Haddow saw red for an alleged stamp on a Harlow player after only 14 minutes of the tie.

Haddow strongly denied the allegation and his manager was hoping video evidence would exonerate the player if used at an appeal hearing.

A Matt Tubbs spot kick on the stroke of half-time proved enough to see the Whites through, setting up next month's trip to Essex.

"Of course it would have been nice to have been at home," said Holmes. "But this is just the kind of game we want to test ourselves.

"We've played a few Conference South sides in the past six or seven months and have done well."

Holmes admits he knows little about The Gulls, but will make sure he is well-briefed by the time the tie comes around.

"The pressure will be on them at home. We'll just have to go there and try to beat them, or get a draw and bring them back to our place.

"They're mid-table in the Confer-ence, but I believe their home form hasn't been that great this season.

"We've now got four weeks to take a look at them," added Holmes whose charges slipped back to second in the Southern Premier Divi-sion table on Saturday due to Bed-ford Town's win at Merthyr Tydfil.

"I'm sure the players will want to go there and prove why we are in the position we are. It's important we go and give it our best."

The winners will proceed to the last 16 of the prestigious competition, taking a cheque for £5,000 from the FA's prize fund with them.

City will now re-focus on their promotion ambitions over a busy festive period when they face three games in seven days, kicking off with Tiverton Town at home on Tuesday, December 27.

Bottom of the table Northwood then visit Old Sarum on New Year's Eve, with Whites making the trip to Gloucester City on Monday, January 2.