Essex Senior League: Tower Hamlets 3 Greenhouse Sports 2

Tower Hamlets moved up to 14th in the Essex Senior League with a 3-2 victory over Greenhouse Sports last night (Monday).

Four of the five goals were scored in the first half at the Mile End Stadium with 27 in attendance.

The hosts made a bright start and opened the scoring with just over a quarter of an hour played in east London.

Patrick Lukondo latched onto Sam Baffour’s pass and lobbed the Sports goalkeeper to put Hamlets ahead.

The visitors responded almost immediately, though, in the 18th minute as Lefter Antara netted to make it 1-1.

A dramatic period of play was concluded by Edison Teberen, who scored seven minutes later to put Ade Abayomi’s men back in front midway through the first period.

It seemed like that was how it would remain until half time, but on the stroke of the interval the east Londoners extend their advantage.

Sunday Wasiu raced through one-on-one with the Sports goalkeeper and rounded him, although he was momentarily tripped – the Hamlets forward was able to keep his composure and slot into the net.

The second period was always likely to be less exciting than the first and so it proved.

Goalscorer Lukondo and McClean were replaced in the 63rd minute by Alberto Martinez and Andre Paul, but it proved to have a negative impact.

Sports managed to pull one back two minutes later through Lobont Laurentiu, but the Abayomi’s men managed to hold out to earn a seventh league success of the season.

Hamlets have 25 points from their opening 20 matches this season ahead of hosting Newham at the Mile End Stadium on Saturday.

Tower Hamlets: Duncan, Earle, Cedras, Lazoio, Ndao, Yaslem, Teberen, McClean (Paul 63), Lukondo (Martinez 63), Wasiu, Baffour.

Unused substitutes: Abalo, Sumithran.

Attendance: 27.