Ilford 2 Woodford Town 1

Essex Senior League, Monday November 15th

Monday night saw me over at Cricklefield for an Essex Senior League contest between Ilford and Woodford Town, and it saw the hosts come from behind to end a day where they celebrated their 140 years of history with three precious points.

It was a big day for the Foxes as they marked 140 years of history with a exhibition of this in the Cricklefield clubhouse along the corridors and upstairs in the bar, and they even had a visit from the mayor too, and an attendance of 120 for the game was also a decent return for them as they looked to try and claim all three points against a decent Woodford side who had netted ten goals in their last three away games, winning all three.

In contrast Ilford's last three home games ha yielded no goals and five against having lost all three in a season of ups and downs so far, so on paper it looked likely the visitors would net a win here, and after a pretty poor opening half hour which saw the only chance a brilliant long range effort from the visitors tipped onto the bar by host keeper Aires Ferreira, and although Woodford tucked home the rebound, the offside flag had gone up.

Twelve minutes before half time though Woodford did grab the lead when Richard Asamoah cut in from the right wing into the box before slotting past Ferreira from the angle to send the noisy visiting Woodford Towners wild, however just moments later Ilford had the chance to make a swift reply when they were awarded a penalty, but skipper for the evening Dion Lewis-Kirwan saw his spot kick saved by Eddie Allan, so the visitors held a slender lead going into the break.

The Foxes had responded well to going behind and had ended the half well despite this penalty miss, and they continued this momentum into the second period and levelled six minutes after the break in spectacular fashion as a lovely long ball from Jerold Cobblah found Emerson Dju, and the latter controlled the pass with his chest before volleying superbly over keeper Allan for a superb goal.

And five minutes after this the hosts were awarded another penalty, and this time the spot kick duties were given to Reece Sayers, and the Foxes number ten duly sent Allan the wrong way and Ilford now had the lead, a lead they were not to relinquish, and therefore picked up a well earned three points and end a momentous day for the club on a high. 

The result sees Ilford up a place to 15th whilst Woodford stay in 11th following this defeat for them, ending that recent good form away from home, whilst Ilford of course netted their first goals at home since the start of October and ended their recent poor form at home. The Foxes welcome league leaders Walthamstow to Cricklefield at the weekend in an Errington Challenge Cup Preliminary Round tie, Woodford don't play again till next Wednesday when they welcome Saffron Walden to Ashton's in a Peter Butcher Memorial Trophy Preliminary Round contest, both will be tough games that's for sure.

Full time Ilford 2 Woodford Town 1