Canvey survived an early scare and then hit four-second half goals to cruise past nine-man Newport Pagnell Town in the FA Cup on Saturday.

The Gulls controlled the first-half and were only denied an 18th-minute lead when Jason Hallett’s shot was saved by Mark Osbourne.

But the Swans had a great chance to take the lead at the Brockwell Stadium when they were awarded a dubious 31st-minute penalty for a challenge on Jordan Spruce, which appeared to be outside the box.

Darren Lynch took the spot kick but slammed it against the post.

And the United Counties League-outfit were punished in the 50th minute when in-form Alex Rhodes’ deflected shot found its way into the net.

The Swans, who were unbeaten this season going into the game, were level ten minutes later when Rob McDonald broke down the right and fired home.

But the Gulls quickly regained their lead when the recalled Danny Heale drilled one into the bottom corner.

Then the visitors’ hopes were dealt another blow when Dean Buss was dismissed for his second bookable offence.

Canvey seized the initiative and, after Matt Game’s shot was tipped onto a post, James Rowe was on-hand to bury the rebound.

Rhodes then grabbed his second, and Canvey’s fourth,a minute later when he beat Osbourne at his near post.

And the visitors’ misery was compounded in the dying moments when Richard Armstrong was shown a straight red card for an elbow.

Canvey boss John Batch said: “They came here unbeaten in eight and they had a lot of confidence, but I thought we controlled the game.

“They were given a penalty that was never a penalty early on, but by then we had already missed a lot of chances.

“But we were more ruthless in the second half and scored the goals our performance merited.”

Canvey’s Jon Edwards, playing his first game of a month loan at Maldon & Tiptree, broke his leg in the 55th minute of their 1-0 FA Cup win at Ilford.