CANVEY are looking set fair to go one better than last season when they just missed out on the Ryman Division One North play-offs.

Following Saturday's comprehensive 3-0 home success over Wingate & Finchley, John Batch's Gulls lie just one place outside the coveted top five.

And all that is likely to change if they pull off their expected home success over struggling Ilford at Park Lane tomorrow night (7.45pm).

The Islanders' hopes of success this season - they are also through to the third qualifying round of the FA Trophy and travel to Premier side Maidstone at Sittingbourne next weekend -have been significantly boosted by the arrival of highly-rated central defender Russell Edwards.

Edwards arrives with a first-class non-league pedigree, having played 43 games for the Iron last season as skipper of the Braintree Town team that reached the Blue Square South play-off final last term.

Aged 32, Edwards is no longer able to commit himself to such a high level of the game now due to work demands, which could sideline him from some Canvey games.

But there is no doubt that his signing for Canvey is a major coup for Batch.

Certainly he gave a hugely impressive display as the Islanders easily dismissed Saturday's opponents.

"I've known Russell for a long time. He came to watch us recently and, although he's had offers from higher level clubs, he's decided to join us," said Batch.

"I'm delighted he has. He's a class defender and can play an important part in our bid for the play-offs this term."

Batch is happy with the way his troops are progressing currently, making light of a heavy injury list which would cripple many sides at this level.

This was their fourth clean sheet in five games and Batch said: "I didn't think we played that well in the first-half as we missed out on some good chances.

"But we showed a big improvement after the break and certainly deserved our win. Having just missed the play-offs last term, our first at this level, we have to have ambitions to go one better this time."

To be honest, Gulls will seldom come across opposition so toothless as Saturday's visitors.

It was the 86th minute before they managed their first shot at goal and Canvey keeper Ricky Wiseman, a keen angler who has featured in the Echo with his hobby, could have spent the afternoon fishing without being missed.

Batch's men could have been well clear by the break, but Danny Curran shot over when well-placed in the first minute and missed out again after 18 minutes following a fabulous run from star midfielder Gabriel Fanibuyan.

Only a fine tackle by the visiting side's Bobby Aisien stopped Curran running through after excellent play by attack partner and man of the match Nicky Rugg.

But Canvey finally got the lead they undoubtedly deserved on the stroke of half-time when skipper Craig Davidson's free-kick from the left was only partially cleared and Leon Gordon applied the finishing touch.

The industrious Curran thumped an effort against the woodwork after the break before scoring a deserved goal to double the lead on 68 minutes.

Rugg crossed from the right and the visiting side's former Billericay goalkeeper Gavin King did a juggling trick Tommy Cooper would have been proud of before dropping the ball for Curran to fire home.

Davidson wrapped up the points from the penalty spot two minutes from time to leave a happy home crowd of 273 in jubilant frame of mind, confident that 2008 could be a year to remember.