Long-serving Garry Britnell turned from villain to hero as Canvey Island shared the spoils with relegation-threatened hosts Hitchin in this incident-packed Ryman League Premier Division affair.

Gulls' boss Jeff King rung the changes after last week's shock home defeat by Hamp-ton and Richmond - a setback which finally ended any outside hopes of catching leaders Dagenham and Redbridge.

Now, after this sharing of the spoils, the Islanders may have to ultimately settle for third place. Aldershot, who Canvey visit a week tomorrow, are undoubtedly very much favourites for finishing second as they are now just a point behind the Islanders with three games in hand.

The switches made by the visitors saw ex-Football League star Peter Smith make his debut in defence after signing from Confe-rence outfit Woking 24 hours before Friday's Ryman transfer deadline.

The ex-Brighton man, who has signed a two-year deal, certainly looks like being a useful acquisition and, at a time when Gulls trailed 3-2, made a timely intervention when star home striker Gary Dixon looked set to put Saints a match-winning 4-3 ahead.

Only 90 seconds had gone when Britnell was judged to have fouled Darren Frenton in the box and the Hitchin man got up to beat Ashley Harrison with the penalty.

Jeff Brazier's fifth-minute cross saw home goalkeeper Richard Wilmot push a Steve Parmenter header onto the bar, but Gulls - again sadly missing the skill and speed of injured Steve Ward at the heart of defence - went 2-0 down when Adam Parker converted Robert Kean's cross after 17 minutes.

Steve Tilson and Neil Gregory combined to set-up Paul Abrahams for Gulls' opener after 26 minutes, but the home side rallied with Harrison pushing one effort from Dixon onto the bar after 35 minutes and then saving from the same player 60 seconds later.

The Islanders looked in real trouble when they went 3-1 down six minutes after the break. David Kerslake's attempted back pass went straight into the path of Dixon, who scored with ease.

Canvey were giving something of a disjointed performance with their usual flowing game being changed as department looked a separate entity.

However, all that changed when King made a key substitution on 59 minutes with the introduction of ex-Southend United man Mark Stimson into midfield.

From that point on, Gulls, with Stimson controlling the game, took the upper hand. Tilson's free-kick after 66 minutes saw Gregory reduce the arrears to just one goal.

Then, after that man Smith had worked wonders to stop Dixon, Britnell was on hand three minutes from time to head the vital equaliser from Tilson's corner.

Gulls face a very tough game tonight when they visit in-form Essex rivals Purfleet, who are currently looking a good bet for a top six placing after a great run.

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