Canvey Island..................6

Leyton Pennant...............1

(Ryman League Div One)

PENNANT'S defensive problems continued as they conceded six goals for the second successive game in their crushing defeat at Canvey Island.

A change in personnel in defence for this game saw Andy Silk slot in at right back, Tony Dixon on the left and John Kent partnering Paul Salmon at centre half.

The back line may have had a totally new look, but the old problems remained in evidence, with the team struggling to defend even the most standard of set pieces.

As on Tuesday, the visitors held sway for the first ten minutes but the debacle began in the 13th minute.

A ball down the left was crossed for Hazel to sidefoot home via the post from close range. Twelve minutes later, the same player headed in the second when surrounded by Lilywhites players from a free kick.

A brief flurry by Pennant should have brought a penalty when Briane Horne, the former Millwall keeper, pushed Kevin Riley as the players jostled after a corner, but the referee turned a blind eye.

If Pennant could have gone in at the break just two goals down then they could have held some hope, but Hazel got on the end of another free-kick and was able to complete his hat-trick, the killer third goal arriving on the stroke of half-time.

Eight minutes after the interval, the Lilywhites hit back, putting together a move which brought the best goal of the match.

Evans nut-megged a Canvey defender and slipped a delightful side foot pass into the path of Billy Cove, who fired home powerfully from just inside the box.

With Canvey wobbling at this point, there seemed an outside chance that Pennant could claw their way back.

The danger was that they might be caught on the break and, unfortunately, Canvey were able to exploit that opportunity when it came.

A reverse pass from Billy Read to John Lowe was intercepted on the edge of the Canvey box and a hopeful through-ball was played away.

Last defender Salmon tried to intercept but missed with his lunging challenge and Parmitter was allowed a clear run on goal, beating John Cheesewright comfortably.

The fifth goal arrived with 15 minutes left, a woeful backpass from Riley allowing Williams to round the stranded keeper and score.

Number six came from an own goal with ten minutes left, and summed up a dismal week for the Lilywhites.

They must take all three points from Saturday's bottom of the table clash against Worthing at Wadham Lodge. Kick-off is at 3pm.

LEYTON PENNANT: Cheesewright, Gerraghty, Riley, Kent, Silk (sub: Swain), Salmon, Lowe (sub: Kennedy), Mitchell, Evans, Cove, Read. Sub not used: McClean.

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