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The newly promoted Rocks made life difficult for Canvey and the Gulls needed a late penalty from Robbie King to seal the three points that takes them up to fourth in the table in front of a crowd of just over 400 on a August Bank Holiday Monday afternoon.

Gulls edged this game but found goal-scoring opportunities hard to come by against a tough and uncompromising Rocks’ defence.

Canvey started brightly with Jason Hallett and Jay Curran returning to the starting line up after missing the first three games through suspension, nearly combining after 5 minutes to create a chance.

It was 14 minutes before Canvey eventually had a shooting opportunity but a speculative volley from King from 25 yards dropped harmlessly wide of Richard Wray’s goal.

East Thurrock featured former Gulls’ winger Greg Cohen in their starting line up but despite the best promptings of Reiss Gilbey in their midfield, they rarely tested James Russell who for the most part had to make only a couple of routine saves.

A mistake from Steve Sheehan nearly allowed Neil Richmond a sight on goal but he screwed his effort wide from a tight angle.

Stanley Muguo headed a free kick well wide at the far post from a rare attack.

Some tricky dribbling from Kye Ruel then set up a shot for Richmond on 28 minutes but the former Great Wakering forward fired a weak effort straight at Russell from the edge of the penalty area.

This was a rather dull and lifeless game though and Canvey a lot of the time struggled to play their normal passing game often resorting to playing high aimless balls forward that were easily dealt with by Rocks’ tall centre backs Ben Wood and Simon Peddie.

East Thurrock’s game plan of closing Canvey down quickly in midfield seemed to be working although Matt Game was trying his best to inject some energy and enterprise into Canvey’s game.

Canvey’s injury worries continued when Hallett was forced to come off after 38 minutes. He was replaced by Antonio Gonnella with Curran moving from right wing to partner Danny Heale up front.

The game sparked into life briefly before half time with Game showing great tenacity to win the ball and then find space 25 yards from goal but his chip was over the crossbar.

Gonnella then flashed a shot wide from the right hand edge of the penalty area as Canvey made a strong end to a scrappy and rather dour first half.

The second half continued in similar fashion with Canvey dominating possession but never quite able to break down a Rocks’ defence in which Peddie and Tom Stephen were the star performers.

Canvey had a good shout for a penalty on 55 minutes when King’s hooked cross from near the byline appeared to be blocked by Peddie’s hands. The referee waved away Canvey protests.

East Thurrock had a couple of promising moments but John Easterford and former Rocks’ defender Sheehan were solid at the back rarely giving their forwards a sight on goal.

Curran finally tested Wray on 60 minutes after a quick break saw him dribble into the penalty area from the right but his shot was blocked well by the keeper.

It was starting to look a frustrating afternoon for Canvey until on 76 minutes, they won a penalty after a push on Easterford by Ruel as he attempted to reach Alex Rhodes’ corner.

King stepped up and calmly stroked home his penalty into the bottom corner of the net sending Wray the wrong way for his third goal in a week.

East Thurrock started to show a bit more urgency now but were unable to penetrate a well organised Canvey backline and Russell was only tested by a couple of high crosses into the penalty area.

Steve Ward replaced Curran as Canvey looked to run down the clock and they did this quite comfortably to seal a victory that was far from pretty but could prove crucial come the end of the season.

Canvey now face a Harrow Borough side on Saturday who pipped them to a play off place last season and will go into this game in a confident frame of mind.