I was at a big top of the table clash in the ESL as Ilford hosted leaders Sawbridgeworth Town at Cricklefields on a rather wet (and then sunny) windy afternoon in Seven Kings.
With Bowers game falling to the weather earlier in the day Sawbo knew they could go four points clear at the top with a win although they were coming up against a very dangerous and impressive Ilford side who were having a superb season under Allan Fenn’s guidance.
The hosts started the better and saw skipper Glen Warwick strike an effort over from outside the box after good work from Elias Armor-Tackie saw him lay back to the midfielder. On 9 minutes the hosts went close again when a long throw into Sawbo’s box by Warwick saw the ball flicked towards the back post although it was just to high for Atutis at the back post who could not divert his header at goal.
Ilford were doing most of the pressing although the next sight of goal fell to the visitors on 25 minutes when Norton was presented with the ball by the Ilford defence about twenty yards out but his effort was well over the bar in what was the visitors only real foray into the Ilford last third all half. On 36 minutes Ilford skipper Warwick tried to catch Sawbo keeper Byrne out with afree kick but the keeper was alert to it and gathered easily.
Deep into first half stoppage time the Foxes almost grabbed a deserved lead when Jones burst into the box and thumped a super effort off the post. It had been the closest anyone had come to goal by some way in a half the hosts were the better in but in all honesty it wasn’t the greatest of halves of football if truth be told.
Half Time Ilford 0 Sawbridgeworth Town 0
However the second half was a much easier watch and it started as the first had ended as seconds into it the hosts had a great chance when Jones found himself with acres of space in front of goal but took his time to get an effort away and saw his shot deflect inches wide. Four minutes later the visitors had their first real moment in front of Ilford’s goal when the ball almost broke for George Wappett but the hosts keeper Clark dived on the ball before the visiting forward could get to the ball and then moments later Wappett managed to get in behind the defence but saw his shot deflected wide.
Moments after that Sawbo nearly scored again when Charlie Cole saw an effort from inside the area deflect just over. It was the only time the visitors had looked like a threat up front in the entire game but they were soon defending again as they gave away a free kick but Warwick could only strike this over.
On 57 minutes came Sawbo greatest chance to score when the ball fell to Cole only a few yards out but he sliced his volley wide with just the keeper to beat. It was compounded only two minutes later when the Foxes took the lead when skipper Glen Warwick took aim and whipped a left footed long range effort past Byrne in the Sawbo goal to give the hosts a deserved lead.Ilford 1 Sawbridgeworth Town 0.
Ilford now would just hope they could grab another goal to really give the leaders a mountain to climb and they kept their opponents pretty much at arms length for much of the second half too and the only effort Sawbo could muster came with just over fifteen minutes left when Cole tried an effort from long range but it was never threatening the goal and rolled well wide.
The hosts so nearly got that second goal a minute later when Thomas saw his header deflect off a visiting defender and onto bar and over. However just two minutes later in the 77th minute they did finally double their lead when the ever impressive Elias Armor-Tackie cut inside onto his right foot and smacked one past Byrne for a super strike and put daylight between themselves and the visitors. Ilford 2 Sawbridgeworth Town 0.
And it got even better for the ever impressive hosts when just two minutes after that Ilford won a free kick on the right and saw Harry Matthews head home Armor-Tackie’s cross and give the hosts an almost third clinching goal and cue a pile of bodies on top of the goal scorer. Ilford 3 Sawbridgeworth Town 0.
After this the hosts could of added further goals and on 83 minutes Armor-Tackie burst into the box and squared for Carl Mullings whose effort struck the base of the near post, the third time the hosts had struck the woodwork in the game and although Sawbo sub Barrett fired well over for the hosts soon after it should of been another Ilford goal four minutes from time when sub Da Silva had only the keeper to beat but hit it straight at Byrne.
Moments later the rampant hosts missed another golden chance when Matthews volleyed straight at Byrne from point blank range as the hosts could of made it very embarrassing for the league leaders, who were heading for their first league defeat of the season.
Then in stoppage time the visitors miserable afternoon was compounded when Todd overran the ball out for a throw in and booted the ball away in frustration and was shown a second yellow and so was sent off in what was a very needless red card it has to be said and showed the level of frustration the visitors were feeling by now.
After several minutes of stoppage time the referee brought proceedings to an end and saw Ilford run out deserved winners in what was a great performance from Allan Fenn’s side. As for the visitors they need to regroup and go again when they visit Southend Manor in midweek, a game no doubt boss Marc Das is already looking ahead to after this poor show from his side today.
Full Time Ilford 3 Sawbridgeworth Town 0
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