Report
The Lilywhites’ revival continued on Saturday as they outfought a resilient Grays Athletic side to record a vital win.
The game was played on a terrible pitch and in persistent drizzle but the conditions didn’t stop Lyndon Lynch’s rejuvenated team.
He introduced a new midfielder in former Chelsea youth player Jay Sharland and also a new style of play.
Pennant lined up three across the back with Andy Silk as sweeper, and Lynch saw his tactics proved correct.
He said: “It’s great to get three points. We’ve come off a bad run and it’s good to get back to winning ways.
“We move up a few places and that’s important at this time of the year. We were powerful and worked hard and it paid off.”
It was Grays who had all the early running however, as Pennant settled down into their new system.
John Cheesewright was relieved to see a shot by former Dagenham and Redbridge player Vinny John hit his post but from then on, it was the Lilywhites who showed the way.
Tyrone Hercules embarked on a jinking run which ended with Billy Cove’s shot being pushed round the post by former Pennant keeper Ian Brooks. From the resulting corner, Steve Perkins rose above the pack to head home the opener.
Another corner provided Pennant’s second after 29 minutes. The ball was swung in and flew into the net via Cove and a Grays defender for a 2-0 half-time lead.
Grays began the second half determined to fight their way back into the game. They hit the post with one attack but it was Pennant who were the next to score.
A free kick was flicked on by Salmon into the path of Billy Read who slammed in what turned out to be an important goal.
The home side were far from dead and buried, even at three goals behind, and they began to force the game.
During one three-minute spell in the closing stages, they hit two quick goals to set up a nervous finale.
The tension boiled over with three minutes left when a fracas in the Lilywhites’ penalty area ended with John and Steve Perkins being sent off and they continued their disagreement all the way to the dressing room.