Report
Leyton Pennant had a bitter first taste of life in the Ryman League division two on Saturday, August 19 with a 6-1 home defeat by Hemel Hempstead Town.
It was a tough opening task for the Lilywhites against the team who won the division at a canter last term but could not be promoted because of their C ground grading.
And Martin Busson’s men made a promising start before their defence collapsed early in the second half.
Pennant looked dangerous in the opening exchanges with Richard Chick, Jamie Richards and Luke Williams combining well up front.
Williams gave the home side a deserved lead on 24 minutes, smashing a 30-yard drive into the top corner.
But within a minute of the second half Micky Durkin brought Hemel back to level terms with a short range shot. Then Pennant fell behind as defender Ian Barnes slashed an attempted clearance into his own net.
The floodgates opened soon after as the visitors scored four more through Durkin, Steve and Dave Butler and Ravenscroft.
The Lilywhites continued to come forward and could have scored through Chick and Tony Marsh but it was not to be their day.
Busson said: ‘The first 45 minutes was very pleasing and there are things to build on there, the players have got the ability.
‘But we lost our shape and our discipline in the second half and showed a lot of naivety.’