SAM Collins admits he and Canvey Island are enjoying playing under the floodlights after crushing Tilbury 6-2 to climb to the top of the Isthmian North.

The two were level at 2-2 at half-time, only for Canvey to pull away after the break and complete a resounding victory.

Captain Collins scored two of the six goals, including a stunning 88th minute effort from inside his own half.

And he said everyone at the club is enjoying their football at the moment, having won their last three evening matches and scored 16 goals.

“We like to move the ball around and on Tuesday the ground seemed to be a bit slicker,” said the Canvey-based Collins.

“In the summer there is not much rain but it is slightly damper now and we are able to get our passing game going.

“It was a back and forth match. We took the lead and they pegged us back twice so we needed to step it up in the second half.

“They beat us in the second game of the season so we owed them one and we learned our lesson from the first game and first half and were able to win.”

Collins has a habit of scoring spectacular goals, having hammered in a stunning strike against Bowers & Pitsea earlier in the season.

And he said he probably wouldn’t have attempted the long-range effort had Canvey not been comfortably in control.

Collins said: “My first goal came following a one-two with (George) Sykes and it was a nice goal but, to be honest, my legs had gone for the second goal!

“If it wasn’t 5-2 I wouldn’t have done it but I thought why not. I had spoken to Mitch Gilbey about it earlier in the game as we noticed their keeper liked to start high up the pitch.

“But, in general, things are good,” he added. “We didn’t have the best start but we have kicked on. Others have games in hand but we have the points on the board and we’ll see where we are after that.”