With the host side fielding a number of players with Roots Hall connections, it was former Southend United men Matt Lockwood and Martin Ling who taught Canvey Island a new meaning to the phrase Black Friday.

Gulls entertained a Leyton Orient line-up and the Nationwide League Division Three visitors, just back from a Belgian tour, enjoyed a field day.

The Londoners fielded a very strong line-up throughout and were soon in the lead through Billy Beale.

Andy Jones equalised, but the floodgates opened after Alex Inglethorpe made it 2-1 for the O's.

Ling then chipped in with a double and Lockwood a hat-trick as Canvey played a major part in their own downfall with a series of schoolboy howlers at the back.

Canvey were 6-1 down at half time and Tony Richards was the other scorer.

Gulls did have key players missing and will, of course, not be playing opposition of this standard when their Ryman League Premier Division season starts.

However, there is plenty for Glenn Pennyfather and his coaching staff to work on before Ipswich bring a side to Park Lane for the next friendly on Monday (7.30pm).

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