Essex Senior League: Enfield 1 Tower Hamlets 3

A brace from Luke With helped Tower Hamlets get back to winning ways in the Essex Senior League with a 3-1 victory at Enfield last night.

Ajay Ashanike and Ade Abayomi’s team took an early lead through right-back Lamar Earle, but the E’s equalised just before the break.

With scored twice in the second half, however, to move the Mile End Stadium club up to seventh in the table following their ninth league success of the campaign.

Hamlets were out for some type of revenge after losing 2-1 at home to the E’s in the FA Vase on Saturday.

In a bad tempered encounter, the east Londoners had four players sent off at the weekend and with the suspensions not set to kick in for seven days, all of them featured at Barrows Farm.

Play got underway just after 7.45pm and it didn’t take long for the opening goal of the game to occur.

A deep cross by Antonio Monteiro was aimed in the direction of With and his presence forced Enfield’s defence into a weak clearance to Earle.

The visitors right-back controlled confidently before drilling towards the corner and despite the best efforts of an E’s defender, it just about made its way in with six on the clock.

Just two minutes later and the game was nearly level when Alhousman Ndure sliced a clearance towards his own goal, but fortunately for him it hit the crossbar and the away side managed to clear the danger.

Enfield came close again with 17 played when Jayden Hocking-Rising fizzed a low ball across the face of the visitors’ goal moments after a loud penalty appeal.

Hamlets survived and seemed happy to soak up any pressure from the hosts, who enjoyed the better of the possession in the opening exchanges.

Hocking-Rising, who plays cricket for Wanstead during the summer months, came close again in the 24th minute.

Ex-Ilford and Romford ace Danny Jones picked up the ball in midfield and brilliantly found Hocking-Rising on the right, but he drilled past the post.

Hamlets responded 11 minutes later after O’Neal Rowe and Earle worked hard to win the ball back inside Enfield’s half.

Earle then played in With and he saw an effort deflected wide from outside the area before he volleyed over 60 seconds later.

The hosts continued to push for an equaliser and Earle was forced to clear a header off the line in the 39th minute.

On the stroke of half time, the referee used his cards for the first time with Ndure going into the book for pulling back Josh Sykes.

Enfield made the most of the free kick on the right too with Jones whipping it in and Sykes knocking down for James O’Brien to convert from close range.

It was a deserved leveller for the E’s, who had dominated most of the play following the opener and it remained 1-1 at half time.

The second half was only four minutes old when Mata Julio went into the book for the visitors after a rash challenge.

Hamlets should have gone back ahead in the 51st minute though when Rowe cut back for With, but he sliced wide from 16-yards.

Almost straight after that chance, a delay of three minutes occurred when Matt Thoma took a blow to the head and needed treatment.

Play resumed in the 55th minute with Thoma going off and with temperatures as low as 3, both sides looked for their second goal.

With 60 on the clock, Hamlets were handed an excellent chance to go back in front when Matt Duberry blocked With’s effort with his hand.

After booking the E’s defender, With stepped up to take the spot-kick and finished it well to make it 2-1 with 29 minutes left at Barrows Farm.

Some time wasting by Earle produced another delay after with the referee taking his time before booking the full-back.

Hamlets nearly put the game to bed in the 71st minute when With flicked on a long ball to Julio and he passed into Rowe’s path.

Rowe smartly worked a yard of space inside the area, but could only curl wide with the Enfield goalkeeper beaten.

Ashanike and Abayomi made their first change with 16 to go when Wale Odedoyin joined his brother Tola on the pitch with Monteiro making way.

The substitute nearly had an immediate impact as he combined wonderfully with Earle on the right and the full-back chipped past the E’s goalkeeper, but also past the post with quarter of an hour remaining.

With the hosts pushing for an equaliser, Hamlets were beginning to make the most of gaps which were opening in the Enfield defence.

Jerome Anthony went close three minutes later when Rowe won the ball well and cut back for the visitors’ number four, but he curled wide from the edge of the area.

Hamlets created another chance in the 80th minute when Frankie Sinclair chipped into With’s path and despite being under pressure, the forward back heeled towards goal, though it rolled just wide.

Less than a minute after that chance and With blazed high and wide from the edge after more good work by Rowe.

Enfield did have the ball in the back of the net with 85 on the clock, but it was ruled out for offside.

Sykes felt he should have been awarded a penalty straight after, yet the referee waved play on and the away side broke forward.

Rowe and Julio combined to play in Wale Odedoyin, but the ex-Barking and Ilford ace drilled wide.

The E’s increased the pressure in the dying exchanges and went close with a header on the stroke of full time.

It would prove to be their final chance, however, with Hamlets wrapping up the points in the third minute of stoppage time.

Enfield wanted a foul on Sykes and were right to appeal for it with Tola Odedoyin pulling the forward down.

But nothing was given and With latched onto a long pass to fire past the E’s custodian and make it 3-1.

Hamlets should have been given another penalty deep into stoppage time when Wale Odedoyin went down inside the area.

Nothing was given and the full time whistle occurred soon after to hand the visitors all three points.

Tower Hamlets: Pellin; Earle (Ross 90), T.Odedoyin, Ndure, Anthony; Tobun; Sinclair, Julio (Ackie 90), Monteiro (W.Odedoyin 74); Rowe, With.

Unused substitutes: Capleton, Casey.