THREE points were hard earned by Canvey against Ryman Premier basement boys Carshalton on Saturday.

The third placed Gulls ran out 4-2 winners at Park Lane but had to come from behind and face off a stern challenge from the visitors' high tempo frontline.

A defensive error in the eighth minute gave the Robins the lead when Rickie Hayles was quite dawdling on the ball by Sol Pinnock, who then squared the ball to Nathanniel Pinney to score.

Canvey pushed forward looking for an equaliser and it was only a good fingertip save by Nick Hamman which prevented Bradley Woods-Garness from doing so in the 16th minute.

Jay Curran did level the score three minutes later when Rob King’s scuffed shot managed to wiggle past Hamman and the forward was on hand to make it 1-1.

Woods-Garness opened his account in the 28th minute when Curran chested down the ball for the side’s top scorer to hit a crisp shot from the edge of the area past Hamman.

In the 37th minute James Hawes sprinted onto a lovely chipped ball by Curran to give Canvey a two goal cushion at half time.

Despite the lead the team propping up the league table were feisty and still looked dangerous, with their efforts paying off in the 49th minute when Hakeem Adelakun curled a free kick from around 25 yards out past Ashlee Jones.

The game took a turn for the worst for Carshalton when Pinney was given a straight red for kicking Richard Orlu in an off the ball incident on the hour mark.

Although Carshalton kept up their pressure, they did not create any real chances.

In the 86th minute Woods-Garness scored his second when Jones’ punt up field was touched by defender Sean O’Toole into his path, with the Canvey star finishing well.

Gulls boss Steve Tilson said he felt his side could have played better, but was happy with the result.

He said: “We didn’t play well and were a bit flat in the second half, but I’m pleased to win which is the most important thing on Sunday morning.”

Canvey: Jones, Miller, Dumas, King, Hayles, Orlu, Chatting (Gilbey 90), Dobinson (Cocklin 72), Woods-Garness, Curran, Hawes (Blackwell 90).

Echo MOM: James Hawes (Canvey Island).