The storm clouds over Clarence Park have grown even darker after St Albans City crashed to a 6-3 defeat at fellow National League South strugglers Aveley last night.

The visitors got off to an absolute flyer, taking the lead after just a minute through Ken Charles. He went on to net a first-half hat-trick as a rollercoaster opening period unfolded which the visitors led 3-2 at the interval, only for them to collapse in the second period as the hosts scored four more goals to leave the Saints second from bottom of the table.

Following Saturday’s 2-0 defeat at home to Chippenham Town and the departures of manager David Noble and his assistant Jon Meakes, it rounded off a miserable week for St Albans, who now find themselves only a point off the basement with just two wins from their 18 league games so far.

It looked like their fortunes may take a turn for the better when Charles latched onto a ball into the box to put the visitors in front with just a minute played at Parkside.

However, the advantage was to be short lived as the hosts equalised in the seventh minute when David Kawa capitalised after a free-kick was delivered to the back post and played back across goal.

The action-packed start to the contest continued as Charles scored his second in the 13th minute, this time finding the bottom corner after a Josh Castiglione shot had deflected through to him.

The visitors remained on the front foot with Phil Chinedu and Shaun Jeffers having opportunities to score a third, but they were to be pegged back again nine minutes before the break when Razzaq Coleman De-Graft levelled from the penalty spot.

Jeffers fired over another good chance from close range in the last minute of normal time in the first half, but Saints did get their third before the break when Charles emphatically finished from a Joe Partington through ball.

The visitors would have been hopeful of taking all three points at the point, but within four minutes of the restart the optimism began to recede after Josh Anifowose levelled.

The end-to-end nature of the action continue with Jeffers firing narrowly wide before Aveley got their noses in front for the first time as Kawa scored his second following a corner just before the hour.

Saints’ night was to get worse in the 67th minute when Coleman De-Graft extended the hosts’ lead and he duly completed his hat-trick seven minutes later to wrap up the three points.