A Peagram brace helped Ilford come from behind to beat Hullbridge Sports at Cricklefield.
Both sides had seen managerial amendments prior to this contest, Ilford merging Allan Fenn and Billy Cove into joint managers, and Darren Manning coming in to replace Rob Hodgson/Aaron Hunwicks as Hullbridge boss.
Ilford sat in ninth position after a slow start to their campaign, whilst Hullbridge were way down in 20th place with only Waltham Forest below them in the division after a season of struggle
The Foxes came into this one off the back of defeat to West Essex whilst Hullbridge defeated Wembley in the Vase to give them confidence ahead of this one.
The early exchanged saw an early chance for both sides, the visitors seeing hosts keeper Clark’s clearence falls to Cox outside the box but he could only blast his first time effort well wide, before the hosts saw an effort blocked on the line down the other end.
If truth be told though the opening twenty minutes were not a great spectacle and the next effort on goal didn’t arrive until midway through the half when the hosts fired an effort at goal from outside the box, but keeper Merrells got down well to save.
But just before the half hour mark the visitors grabbed the lead when an effort from Siemienczuk deflected past Clark and the visitors had the advantage.
With six minutes of the half remaining Sports got in down the left but for some reason Siemienczuk decided to cross instead of shoot at goal and the chance ended up being snuffed out.
And with three minutes of the half remaining Ilford equalised when a cross to the back post was headed back across goal for Peagram to apply a close range finish and send his side in level at the break.
Half Time Ilford 1 Hullbridge Sports 1
The Foxes had a great chance early on in the second period when Atutis sent a powerful free header over the bar, and a few minutes later Peagram sent in a dangerous cross towards the visitors far post but no one gambled on it and it drifted out for a goal kick.
Ten minutes into the half the visitors got in but saw Clark tip the effort wide, then from the corner the visitors sent a header from a angle onto the bar and over.
The next goal was always going to be crucial in such a tight contest and it was the home side who got their noses in front just past the hour mark when Atutis ghosted into the box to send a powerful header in off the bar and give the Foxes the lead.
The visitors looked for a response and in the 72nd minute saw them create a great chance as Buffin got in, but saw Clark save well however the ball squeezed out to the edge of the box but the follow up effort went over.
And with fifteen minutes remaining Ilford increased their lead when another ball into the box saw Peagram head home a third for the hosts and give his side a two goal cushion.
Sports almost got back into the contest late on when an Ilford pass back went past keeper Clark who had come out of goal, but the ball went wide of the post, and the hosts breathed a sigh of relief.
The remainder of the game saw the hosts see it out and pick up a welcome win to maintain ninth spot, whilst for Hullbridge they sit second bottom and with plenty of work to do.
Full Time Ilford 3 Hullbridge Sports 1
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