CANVEY Island manager Danny Heale admits he will give Heybridge Swifts a ‘huge pat on the back’ if they secure promotion from the Isthmian North this season.

Swifts’ cup exertions mean they have a staggering 13 games in hand on some of the sides above them.

And, although many make them favourites to be in the mix for promotion come the end of April, Heale says it will be a big ask ahead of their match tonight.

“If you look at their league form it hasn’t been that good,” said Heale. “It will be interesting to see how it goes but for them to go up is a huge ask.

“They have lost (Luke) Callander to injury and their squad will be tested. If they do it [get promotion] we will all pat them on the back.

“But we are at home tonight and it will be a good game between two decent sides. Hornchurch and Bowers keep picking up points but we are doing OK and we need to makes these games in hand count.”

Canvey were 5-1 winners at lowly Ware on Saturday, although they needed to come from behind to secure the victory.

The result leaves Canvey in fourth, while victory would be enough to lift the Gulls into third spot tonight.

Heale was sent off at half-time at Ware following a discussion with the referee and opposition manager John Dreyer, but he said he was pleased with his team’s display in the second half.

“The scoreline flatters them,” he said. “We gave away a sloppy goal and could have been five or six up. The finishing was so poor.

“The second half was very good and we did take our chances. I had a bit of a ding dong in the tunnel but it was all sorted at the end. It was just handbags.

“George Sykes was denied one of the clearest penalties you will ever see and the same thing happened against Mildenhall the weekend before so I was frustrated.”

Heale said he expects to have a full squad to select from for the match at the Frost Hire Stadium, with Sam Collins and Sykes withdrawn in the second half at the weekend.