SAM Higgins fired Canvey Island to a 3-0 win against Billericay Town – despite suffering an injury in the warm up.

Higgins scored twice in the first half to help the Gulls complete the double over their local rivals in the Isthmian Premier Division.

And the 33-year-old worked his way onto the score-sheet despite not being fully fit.

“I slipped over in the warm up and felt something in my groin which wasn’t ideal,” said Higgins.

“I’ve had a back injury which has been on and off this season so it wasn’t great but I was able to play and it was a great result.

“It’s the first brace I’ve got in a little while as well so I was pleased.”

Higgins fired Canvey in front in the 28th minute, just moments before Billericay were reduced to 10 men with Adam Leathers being sent off.

But Higgins felt the Gulls were on top even before the red card.

“Even before the sending off I thought we were the better team,” said Higgins.

“It was tough conditions out there but we had good chances when it was 11 against 11 and their goalkeeper made some good saves.

“The sending off obviously helped but we were on top before that too.”

Higgins added his second goal of the afternoon just before the break before Town were reduced to nine men six minutes from time with Louis Ramsay receiving his marching orders.

Tobi Tinubu bagged a third for Canvey late on and Higgins now wants the win to be a sign of things to come for Brad Wellmen’s side who are 13th in the table.

“I think it’s 15 games or so we have left this season and we’re going to need to win three quarters of them if we’re to be near the play-offs,” said Higgins.

“There’s quite a big gap at the moment as it’s been a bit up and down for us in the last couple of months.

“But we’ll just look at the next game, look to win it and then take it from there.”

Canvey host ninth placed Lewes on Tuesday evening but Higgins – who is closing in on 400 career goals – is unsure if he will be fit to play.

“It’s frustrating because I felt really good on Saturday but I’m going to have to see how the groin injury is,” said Higgins.

“We don’t want to make anything worse and we’ll have to make a decision.

“But hopefully the game is on because the pitch was in a terrible state by the end of Saturday’s match because we want to build on the win.”