After starting life in the top flight with two victories, Canvey Island are suddenly finding things tougher in the Ryman League Premier Division.

Following Saturday's 1-0 home defeat by a slick St Albans outfit rated third favourites for title honours, Gulls travelled to Hendon, who had previously picked up just one point from three games, on Monday night and lost 3-2.

Jeff King's Islanders showed their fighting spirit when, after conceding a 27th minute goal scored by the home side's Bulgarian international Bontcho Guentchev, they fought back to equalise through Andy Jones 90 second later . . . the club's record scorer converting a Steve Tilson corner.

That was the way it stayed until the break, but Hendon hit their visitors with two goals after the interval.

First Dominic Gentle, brought down by Micky Bennett in the box, dusted himself down to convert the penalty after 51 minutes. Then, ten minutes later, it was much-travelled striker Gentle on target again to make it 3-1.

The visitors at this stage introduced Paul Williams and Steve Parmenter from the substitutes' bench and this injection of new blood saw them dominate for long spells.

Five minutes from time, Tilson was able to reduce the deficit to one with Canvey's second goal, but midfielder Chris Duffy missed out on a glorious equalising chance when he broke clear only to shot wide.

So Hendon picked up their first victory of the season and Gulls were left contemplating a busy Bank Holiday programme that sees them visiting much-fancied Aylesbury on Saturday before hosting Essex rivals Purfleet on Bank Holiday Monday (12 noon).

Elsewhere, the only remaining 100 per cent Premier record went when Hitchin Town lost 2-1 at St Albans City, while Aldershot quickly recovered from Saturday's home setback at the hands of Billericay by winning 4-2 at Purfleet.

Essex side Purfleet, yet to win in four starts, have just two points to their name. Slough remain unbeaten after their 1-1 draw at Carshalton.

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