CANVEY Island were the only south-east Essex team to beat the weather tonight - and probably wished they hadn't.

For they continued their poor home form and lost further ground in the Ryman Premier promotion race with a 5-2 defeat by top dogs Dartford at the Brockwell Stadium.

Without central defender Chris Moore due to suspension, Gulls had hoped to give a debut to new signing Liam McDevitt at the heart of the rearguard. But he was struck down by flu.

The Islanders held their strong visitors to 1-1 at the break, but were overwhelmed in the second-half. Their goals came from a Craig Davidson spot-kick and leading marksman James Rowe.

Elsewhere in the Premier, both AFC Hornchurch v Billericay Town and Waltham Abbey v Aveley were washed out due to waterlogged pitches.

And the torrential rain of earlier in the day also put paid to the Ryman One North clash between East Thurrock United and Concord Rangers.

In the Essex Senior League both scheduled games, Stansted v Tiptree and Eton Manor v Witham Town, were postponed.