Canvey hammered the Rams 4-0 at the KT Stadium on Saturday to leave the hosts struggling in the relegation zone.

 

In the 11th minute a defensive error by Croydon was pounced upon by Canvey’s Alex Rhodes, who calmly slotted the ball home for the first goal.

Lasse Weber and Stefan Joseph combined well up front for the Rams in the 23rd minute but the final shot by Joseph went just wide.

A Jazz Gold free kick was well struck but went wide of the target, and Canvey stepped up the pace with the lively Rhodes running the show.

His second came in the 35th minute when a cross into the penalty box found Rhodes in space and he made no mistake in putting the ball away to put Canvey two up. 

Before half time the away side were three up when Danny Heale's cross set up Rhodes for his hatrick in the 39th minute  

At the start of the second half the hardworking Jeremy Williams had a chance but the Canvey keeper pulled off a good save.

Despite pushing forward the Rams were unable to penetrate the defence. In the 75th minute a free kick was played short then crossed in for Easterford to make it four for the away side, and leave the Rams with an uphill battle.

Charlie Mitten in the Croydon goal pulled off a good save after a great shot from a Canvey striker from 20 yards as the game neared the close, but it was too late for Croydon to pick things up.

Croydon will be looking to put their house in order in time for two important relegation battles next week against Maidstone and Hastings.

Croydon Athletic: Charlie Mitten, Colin Hartburn, Leandre Lohourignon, Kieran McCann (46 mins James King), Jon Cartledge, Jeremy Williams, Danny Elgar, Jazz Gold, Lasse Weber (46 mins Shabazz Baidoo), Stefan Joseph, Tom Bolarinwa (63 mins Stefan Rasmussen) Subs not used: Tom Hughes, Kevin Sefaah