REFEREE Simon Long turned from villain to hero for Canvey Island soccer fans as Gulls earned the right to play Ryman Premier football next season.

In the most dramatic penalty shoot-out I have ever experienced, John Batch's men beat Redbridge to win the Division One North play-off final at the Oakside home of Barkingside.

With the scores locked at 1-1 after extra-time, the Islanders always held the spot-kick upper hand when ex-Billericay man Billy Holland fired Redbridge's second way over the bar.

So striker Nicky Rugg stepped up to take the decisive penalty for Gulls - knowing that success would see the Islanders home 5-4.

Canvey hearts sunk when home goalkeeper Anthony Tucker dived to keep out Rugg's effort, but quickly rose when the match official signalled that the keeper had moved off his line before the whistle.

Rugg quickly converted his second attempt and hundreds of Island fans descended on the pitch to mob their heroes before skipper Craig Davidson collected the play-off trophy.

The scenes were a far cry from 30 minute earlier when Mr Long sent off Gull's defensive giant Colin Wall - who had grabbed Canvey's equaliser - for a second bookable offence to the dismay of visiting supporters in the 925-strong crowd.

Rugg, one of the Islander' key players this term but forced into a substitute role on Saturday after picking up an ankle injury in Tuesday's semi-final play-off success at AFC Sudbury, was a relieved but happy man.

"I was nervous enough about taking the spot-kick first time - you can't imagine how I felt about the re-take," he said.

"Fortunately it all went well and I'm so relieved.

"It all happened so fast. When the keeper saved my penalty I thought he'd come out pretty fast and I knew there was something wrong when I heard the referee's whistle straight away.

"I'm so happy to just have been involved today, let alone played such a major part.

"After Tuesday's win my ankle came up like a balloon and I was gutted.

"But I was fit enough to be on the bench and to come on for the closing stages of normal time and the extra half-hour.

"And to get the decisive penalty was a great feeling.

"But it wasn't all about me. This was very much a team effort and, but for our goalkeeper Mel Capleton, there wouldn't have been a shoot-out.

"Both sides had their chances, but the double-save he made when they broke away in the second-half was world class.

"He was our man of the match by a long way today."

An emotional boss John Batch admitted: "I can't put into words what this fabulous club means to me.

"I think we deserved the win. They were on top in the opening half, but we re-organised the team to get extra players in midfield, an area they'd been dominating, at half-time and thought we took the game to them in the second-half and extra-time.

"This is a great day for this wonderful club. I'm so proud of my players and pleased for our great fans, my backroom staff such as assistant Gary Britnell and all of those who've worked so hard to get this club back on it's feet."