Relegation-haunted Basildon Ladies looked anything but a team doomed to the drop, but then it all went horribly wrong as they lost 6-1 at home to East Thurrock United.
Bees' two star players, midfielders Emma Chumley and 15-year-old Candice Eyre, combined to give the hosts a deserved 18th-minute lead - the former jinking past two defenders and crossing for the promising teenager to hook home.
A defence-splitting pass set up Thurrock's leveller 10 minutes later and a 30-yard drive gave the visitors a half-time lead.
Basildon controlled the early stages of the second half, but with their forward line strangely out of sorts, it fell to the skilful Liz Hendle and her midfield colleagues to pose the biggest threat.
The newtowners then shot themselves in the foot, committing defensive suicide after being so solid for so long.
The floodgates suddenly opened and four goals flew in inside a 21-minute spell - while Pauline Logan was also called on to make some great saves.
"Winning or losing is a game of habit, and unfortunately we are in the latter habit," said Bees boss Bob Gower.
Published Thursday March 4, 2004
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