BOWERS & Pitsea suffered an unexpected 3-1 defeat to bottom of the table Norwich United.

Tony Stokes got on the scoresheet for Rob Small’s side, but his effort came after a Hafeez Sanusi double and a solitary goal from Liam Jackson had put the visitors in the ascendancy at the Len Salmon Stadium.

And Lewis Clark, who netted twice in the 3-0 win over Tilbury in midweek, was dismissed late on for a second bookable offence to compound Bowers’ misery.

The hosts went into the clash looking to pick up their fifth consecutive win and move to the top of the Isthmian North standings.

But they were on the back foot within 10 minutes as Sanusi swept home a low cross to give Norwich United the lead.

And Sanusi doubled his and the away side’s tally seven minutes later, as the attacker reacted to Callum Chafer’s save from a Adam Hipperson attempt.

Lewis Manor and Gavin Cockman tried their luck, but were unable to half the deficit before the break.

Jackson extended Norwich United’s lead further on 64 minutes to give Bowers an uphill battle.

Substitute Fahad Nyanja struck the post five minutes later as Bowers looked to get back into the game.

On 73 minutes, Stokes bagged his fourth goal of the season after latching onto a knockdown by Manor.

But it proved to only be a consolation, while Clark was sent off in stoppage time.

Bowers & Pitsea: Chafer, Clark, Thomas, Yuill (Nyanja 61’), Easterford (M.Stokes 46’), Sartain, Salmon, Leahy, Knight, Manor, Cockman (T.Stokes 46’)