PAUL Mullin was the Stanley hero as the striker scored two goals to propel the Reds back into the play-offs.
The hitman fired home in the seventh and 65th minute to take his tally to 17 league goals for the season - and put him joint third in the Conference top scorers.
"Paul was magnificent," said manager John Coleman. "He worked so hard up front, scoring the goals and even tracking back. I think he is the best striker in the Conference - now I have retired!"
The Reds have slipped up against lower placed teams this season and Canvey represented a potential banana skin.
But once Mullin got on the end of Rory Prendergast's cross, the three points looked to be coming back to East Lancashire.
The Islanders did press with Lee Boylan and Jon Keeling a threat but Paul Crichton only had one real save to make, tipping away a Chris Duffy effort.
His Canvey counterpart, Danny Potter, was much busier, and he did well to clear a Mullin close range effort with his feet before, a minute later, another Prendergast cross found the diving head of the striker and this time he made no mistake.
"It was another good all round team performance," added Coleman. "It is nice to be in the top five but it is only two wins and we can't get carried away. Easter is a big period for this club and it could be the start of something big."
