CASH-strapped Canvey may eventually not have the financial resources or strength in depth to achieve promotion to the next level at the first attempt, but their fabulous fans are second to none.

This was proved again on Saturday when 11 of their supporters left Gulls’ Park Lane home in freezing conditions at 6am to walk the 25 miles in ice-cold winds to Urchins’ Bridge Avenue ground.

Their efforts raised more than £1,000 to boost the coffers of their club and earned them the admiration of all the 371 fans who shivered through the action after their seven-and-a-half- hour trek.

But their efforts were not re-warded with a win. The Islanders have now gone seven Premier games without a win, including six defeats, but might have gained a share of the spoils for their spirited second-half display.

To be honest the hosts, fresh from having their own play-off hopes dented by defeat at Billericay the previous week, should have had the game wrapped up by half-time.

They took the lead after only five minutes when, after Mel Capleton in the visiting goal had touched a Donny Barnard free-kick onto the woodwork, Dean Green was on hand to fire home the rebound.

Green shot straight at Capleton soon after and the hosts should undoubtedly have gone 2-0 up when, after 18 minutes, Kris Lee broke clear of the visiting rearguard but allowed himself to be forced wide by the Canvey stopper and missed his chance.

Canvey came more into the game as the half-time whistle approached, but looked like having their second-half cohesion broken when both Kevin Dobinson and Ben Patten were forced off injured.

But quite the opposite happened. Canvey, with skipper Craig Davidson a midfield inspiration now after his switch from full-back, almost totally dominated the second 45 minutes with Hornchurch only able to launch rare, if sometimes dangerous, breakaway attacks.

But the truth is that, despite their territorial domination, Gulls were only able to trouble ex-Cambridge United and Yeovil goalkeeper Darren Behcet, on West Ham’s books as a youngster, once throughout the 90 minutes.

That came on 71 minutes when the home keeper saved from Ian Luck.

Gulls did look dangerous when Chris Moore moved up to lend his considerable height at set pieces and when the central defender was switched to attack late on in the equaliser hunt.

But the leveller Canvey probably deserved for their efforts — and those fabulous 11 followers certainly warranted — never arrived, leaving Islanders hoping that they can return to the win trail at home to Margate tomorrow.