Clifford Newby-Harris rammed home an 82nd minute winner as Ilford picked up their first win of the season at the expense of Tower Hamlets in their Essex Senior League encounter at Cricklefield.
The Foxes had begun the season not in the best of form and came into this one off the back of a 3-0 home defeat against Hoddesdon Town, whilst Hamlets had won their first league match last time out with a 4-1 win at Sawbridgeworth Town with striker Ezra Ndukuba grabbing a hat-trick in that one.
The hosts had the first effort at goal but saw visiting keeper Jack Gannon get down well to save, before Miles Mercury then had a shot at the hosts goal but saw it go straight at Hugo Rosetti, and then the hosts should of taken the lead but saw Ryan O’Connell head wide from close range.
A long-range effort from the visitors then went straight down the throat of Rosetti, before Anthony Musoke, Hamlets wing back, cut inside onto his right foot and fired a decent effort at goal, but Rosetti got down well to save.
A long ball from the visitors almost found Ndukuba who did manage to throw a head at it and glance it towards goal but keeper Rosetti fielded the ball easily, and although the visitors had shaded the half on chances created, it had been a poor game up till then and was goalless at the break.
Half Time Ilford 0 Tower Hamlets 0
So, would the second period be any better? Well the hosts almost led when a corner was almost turned in by Hamlets centre half Ali Omar, whilst the hosts then dragged wide soon after, but to answer that question, no the game hadn’t really improved in this half.
Chances were at even more of a premium in the second period as it turned out and Hamlets keeper Gannon had to punch clear under pressure but there wasn’t too much else to write about if truth be told as the game entered its final quarter.
Valter Simao then headed wide for the hosts before they then went down to ten men for the final twelve minutes or so after they saw a player off injured and because they had already used their full quota of substitutes, they had to finish the game a man short.
Advantage Hamlets then you would say? Well no actually as the Foxes saw Nic Keyamo almost get in the clear but see a brilliant last-ditch tackle from Kirwan-Meade thwart him, but with eight minutes to go Ilford took the lead when Newby-Harris rammed home from close range and the ten men had the lead.
Hamlets only response of note saw a great run down the right by centre back Omar, but his final ball, a toe poke from the angle, was straight into the arms of Rosetti, and it meant the hosts took the three points in what had been a rather poor game all in all, although the hosts won’t care about that.
Full Time Ilford 1 Tower Hamlets 0
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