Fearless youngsters showing the way forward for Tower Hamlets

Ajay Ashnike discusses talented players making a name for themselves at Mile End club

Tower Hamlets player-coach Ajay Ashnike believes the youthful exuberance of his team is to play for their encouraging recent run.

The Mile End Stadium club are now five games unbeaten and that has essentially assured their Essex Senior League position for another season.

Sawbridgeworth Town are their opponents this weekend before they host title-chasing Bowers & Pitsea next Wednesday. Ashnike expects two tough matches, but insists his young side will not hold back.

“When our match against Barking came around, where we won 3-0, we were panicking a bit about whether to put the youngsters in,” he said.

“But now we aren’t! They have got no fear because they are new to the game. They have just come into the first team so they don’t know about how good other players are.

“My team will go out there and do their job and it is working for them right now so we’re going to continue putting them in.”

Saturday’s clash at Crofters End gives Tower Hamlets an opportunity to exact revenge on the Hertfordshire outfit.

Sawbridgeworth defeated Ashnike’s team 7-1 in the Gordon Brasted Memorial Trophy in November and won 5-1 at Mile End in February.

But despite Sawbo’s form, Tower Hamlets will have no fear.

Ashnike added: “They have been in good form and obviously we have too.

“A couple of months ago they beat us 7-1 in the cup, but we used the youth team in that game.

“Sawbridgeworth are a very good side, though, and it will be a good match, but I have got confidence in my team. If we go out there and do what we do and work hard there is no reason why we shouldn’t get a positive result on Saturday.”

They earned an impressive victory at London Bari last weekend – their ninth league success of the season.

Bari took the lead at the Old Spotted Dog, but Nadao Mohammed and King Amieye put Ashnike’s side ahead at half time.

Amieye doubled the lead two minutes after the break and although the hosts pulled one back late on, Tower Hamlets earned a 3-2 triumph.

Ashnike added: “We are really pleased with the three points against Bari. We got a lot of injuries from training and also the previous game so we only had 13 players on Saturday.

“We always knew we could come back in the game if we were focused and that was what we did.

“Up front was a young kid called Kingy and he has been doing really well in training. We gave him a chance and he proved us right by coming and scoring two goals.”