CANVEY Island boss Danny Heale felt his side produced their best performance of the season in Saturday’s 1-0 defeat at Dulwich Hamlet.

The Gulls were unable to find a way past impressive Dulwich goalkeeper Phil Wilson as they suffered a third successive defeat.

But Heale feels results will soon start to improve for the Islanders.

“If we keep that up then things will turn round for us because I thought we were brilliant,” said Heale.

“I’ve never seen anything quite like it to be honest and their goalkeeper was just outstanding.

“We had one slight lapse which resulted in them scoring but I just felt so sorry for the players at the end of the game because they didn’t deserve to lose.

“We’re only losing by the odd goal though so there isn’t a lot wrong and once our luck changes I’ll think we’ll be OK.”

Canvey had the better of the first half against Dulwich but could not turn their superiority in to goals as Simon Thomas narrowly failed to connect with a dangerous Ellis Sands cross.

Gulls’ loanee goalkeeper Josh Vickers then did well to stop Peter Adeniyi scoring.

But, from the resulting Ellis Green corner, the ball was worked to an unmarked Kevin James who calmly slotted home from 10 yards.

Canvey reacted well to the setback and Wilson did well to push away a Sheldon Sellears free-kick before he made an incredible triple save 11 minutes from time after Thomas had prized open the defence.

The defeat pushed Canvey down to 16th in the table and they travel to Leiston, who are just one place below them, tomorrow night.