RYMAN PREMIER: Canvey were denied an away victory thanks to an inspired goalkeeping performance from Hastings’ Matt Armstrong-Ford.

The Gulls created several excellent chances but the Arrows keeper made a string of superb saves.

Bradley Woods-Garness hit a swerving shot towards the bottom corner, but Armstrong-Ford did well to turn the ball around the post, and then he tipped James Comley’s fierce shot over the bar.

Canvey finally took the lead seven minutes before the interval through the prolific Woods-Garness.

Moments before Jason Hallett had a penalty shout turned down, the ball fell to Woods-Garness and he scored his fourth goal in three games with a powerful effort from the edge of the area.

There were substitutions galore at half time, with Danny Heale replacing Woods-Garness in the Canvey attack, and Hastings making a double change.

The Gulls should have wrapped up the points early in the second half.

Hallett drove into the box before forcing Armstrong-Ford into another excellent save, and Alex Rhodes blasted the rebound high over the bar.

Rhodes did put the ball in the net on 67 minutes having collected Jason Hallett’s squared ball, but the linesman’s flag chalked it off for offside.

And they were made to pay five minutes later when a free kick from the left wing was headed home by Zac Attwood.

Canvey pushed for a winner and on 84 minutes John Easterford was inches away from connecting with Heale’s free-kick.

And in injury-time, substitute Rob King struck a sweet volley which flew just wide of the top corner.