Essex Senior League Tower Hamlets 2 Newham 1

In a classic game of two halves at the Mile End Stadium last night (Wednesday), goals after 40 seconds and 30 seconds from time earned Tower Hamlets the three valuable league points.

The host’s Vinny Williams found the back of the net with less than a minute played, much to the delight of player/manager AJ Olatunbosun.

“Vinny normally plays left mid-field,” he said, “but he’s been pestering me for ages to give him a go up front.

“Last night I gave him his chance, and he goes and scores after 40 seconds!”

The home side had the better of the first half after their super start. “We dominated the match in the first half and really should have had more goals, we were on top for most of the time,” said Olatunbosun.

The second half, though, was a different affair. “Newham came back at us strongly, it really was a game of two halves,” said the player/manager.

“We dealt with all they threw at us until the 81st minute, when Daniel Crowie grabbed the equaliser for Newham.”

Olatunbosun refused to settle for the draw, however, changing his side’s formation for the remaining minutes.

“We went from 4-3-3 to 4-4-2, and my boys continued to show great character as we took the match into injury time.

“With about 30 seconds left to play, I got on the end of a cross and found the back of the net to nick the points,” said the delighted manager.

Olatunbosun takes his team to Enfield on Saturday, but it will be a bit of an unknown quantity for him. “They’ve just got a new manager, so I expect he’s changed a lot of things. I’ve got one injury worry, but other than that have a full squad to choose from,” he said.