Tower Hamlets manager AJ Ashanike was pleased with work rate in his side’s 1-0 victory against Southend Manor.

Hamlets moved back up to seventh in the Essex Senior League thanks to a second-half strike from Shunsake Susaki that sealed the three points for AJ Ashanike’s men at the Mile End Stadium.

Every club in the league had their weekend fixture postponed due to the weather conditions and Ashanike admits despite having more than a week off his boys were still at the races.

“Obviously, I’m very pleased with the result,” he said.

“We’ve been doing indoor sessions throughout the week due to winter weather and the matches being postponed.

“We still looked sharp and we got the three points and at the end of the day that’s all that matters.”

The match was delayed 15 minutes due to referee getting injured in warm up and a replacement had to be arranged - thankfully a league official was in the stands ready to watch the match.

After the eventual start both sides couldn’t find a way through in the early stages and it was 0-0 going into the half-time break.

The hosts broke the deadlock on the hour mark against a run of play when Manor failed to clear their lines, defender Jon Watson set up Susaki, who slotted the ball home to make it 1-0.

They managed to hold on for the final 30 minutes and seal the victory.

“I was pleased with the boys as they worked hard and it was great to see the fitness levels were still high even after matches being called off,” Ashanike said.

“I was really impressed as we haven’t been playing as well of late and I’ve had to keep going in and having strong words at half-time but it was completely different we played from start to finish and the boys all battled for each other.”