A crazy ten minute first half spell, and a Lee Parish hat-trick, cost Wivenhoe this clash on a dull afternoon at Broad Lane.

It was largely uninspiring stuff from the Dragons, who looked to still be feeling the effects of their Thursday night defeat at Clacton.

And to make bad matters worse, Alan Day and Jimmy Clewley could both be in trouble after picking up red cards in the second half, their third each of the season.

Wivenhoe started well but then went completely to pot.

Danny Smith gave away a needless penalty to give the visitors the lead and five minutes later Parish scrambled home a second.

On the half hour the match was effectively over as Parish hooked the ball in to complete his hat-trick.

The second half was a dull affair with chances few and far between and the two dismissals were the only real incidents of note.

Day saw red for a head-butt after 53 minutes - and Clewley was harshly dismissed for a second bookable offence after a challenge on Barking goalkeeper Brian Horne.

Wivenhoe co-manager Steve Pitt said: "We were shocking - it was easily our worst performance of the season. It was only 36 hours after the Clacton game but that's no excuse - we got what we deserved."

Wivenhoe remain sixth in Ryman League division two.

Chelmsford City's slender promotion hopes are in tatters after they fell to a disappointing 3-1 home defeat against improving Spalding in the Dr Marten's League eastern division.

Ben Fuller's goal on the stroke of half-time was the only cheer for City fans, and promotion now seems like a very distant dream.

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.