Tower Hamlets 0 Cockfosters 1

Essex Senior League, Monday 2nd December 2019

Ned Clarke struck home a brilliant long-range effort in first half stoppage time to see Cockfosters to victory over Tower Hamlets at a chilly Mile End Stadium in East London.

The hosts came so close to taking an early lead when they sent a close-range effort against the inside of the post, whilst the visitors then blasted way over down the other end.

The visitors then chipped wide of the far post, but this was pretty much all that happened in the opening twenty minutes or so.

Cockfosters then created a good chance but saw keeper Ade Oyenuga save the effort before the loose ball was taken on by the visitors and then they sent another effort from an angle at goal, but this was cleared off the line.

Hamlets then won a free-kick right on the edge of the box, about twenty yards out, but this was driven just over the bar, and then Hamlets keeper Oyenuga, who could barely walk after picking up a knock, managed to claw away a mis-hit corner before the then said keeper denied the visitors again 

by saving with his legs.

The hosts then sliced wide at the other end and it looked as though the half would remain goalless going into the break, that was until Clarke let fly from at least thirty yards out two minutes into first half stoppage time, flying into the top corner giving keeper Oyenuga no chance whatsoever, and it meant the visitors held a slender lead going into the half time break.

Half Time Tower Hamlets 0 Cockfosters 1

Hamlets had an early second half chance but after getting goal side of the back line the finish was wayward, and then the hosts attacked again but saw an effort blocked and then sent a looping header towards goal but keeper Brad Robinson was on hand to catch the effort.

The hosts then saw another chance blocked before Robinson made a decent stop after a hosts shot from outside the box had taken a slight nick off a defender, whilst down the other end Cockfosters curled a free-kick miles over the goal.

The visitors then almost got in on goal but saw the ball run away from them and allow the defence to just about clear their lines, and then Fosters saw a long range effort spilled by Oyenuga but the hosts keeper managed to grab it at the second attempt.

Hamlets then fired the ball right across the danger zone but it was too powerful for anyone to get on the end of it and it just went past the far post, and then the visitors managed to bundle home at the other end but a free kick had been given so the goal was ruled out.

Hamlets then saw another effort blocked, and then they fired another effort straight at Robinson, but the visitors almost sealed the points but saw an effort from inside the box brush the outside of the post.

However, Clarke's super strike in first half stoppage time proved enough for the visitors to take all three points and move them up to sixth in the table, whilst Hamlets are down in 15^th spot, three points off the top ten.

Full Time Tower Hamlets 0 Cockfosters 1