Hamlets manager happy with side holding their own despite being down to 10 men

Tower Hamlets boss Ade Abayomi praised his squad after they held their own against Barking in the Essex Senior League, despite spending much of the game down to 10 men at Mile End Stadium.

John Bricknell had fired the hosts ahead in the 21st minute and Hamlets were dealt a further blow when Sergiomar da Silva was dismissed for a second bookable offence just before the break.

Despite being a man light, Hamlets drew level after the interval through Landon Joao and looked to be on top on the minutes that followed.

But Barking pulled away in the final 20 minutes with three goals, including a second for Bricknell, though Abayomi was happy with the response from his team following the red card.

“It was a great reaction from the boys after the sending off as we played all of the football despite being down to 10 men,” said Abayomi.

“We looked like we could go on and win the game, but we hit the bar three times when it was 1-1.

“Barking went on to win 4-1, but I couldn’t fault the performance from the boys after the game.

As for the decision to dismiss Da Silva just before the break, Abayomi feels it was a decision that went against his side, but know it was one of those things that happens in football.

“I don’t believe it was a red card, but maybe I am a bit biased because it was one of my players!” he added.

“It left a bad taste in the mouth, but it was something that we had to take on the chin.

“I was impressed with how we played and how we came back into the game before Barking pulled away in the final 20 minutes.”