Essex Senior League: Ilford 0 Tower Hamlets 3

Tower Hamlets took over at the top of the Essex Senior League table after netting three goals in the last 12 minutes at Cricklefield Stadium last night.

Hosts Ilford had not played since December 14, due to a host of postponements for waterlogged pitches.

And the Foxes would not have had fond memories of that previous outing, having slumped to a 7-1 defeat at Basildon.

But Martin Haywood’s men almost snatched an early lead, when a poor backpass was seized upon and a shot hit the outside of a post.

The home side had better chances in the first half, but Tower Hamlets improved after the restart and spurned some great opportunities.

The visitors came into the match on the back of a three-game winning run, having beaten London APSA just 11 days earlier to move level on points with title rivals Enfield and Great Wakering.

But Ilford did well to hold AJ Olatunbosun’s in-form visitors goalless until the 78th minute when Joe Killingback finally broke the deadlock, with a good finish from a tight angle into the far corner of the net.

Luke With doubled the Tower Hamlets advantage in the 89th minute, before Stephen Demetriou added a third in stoppage time to give the final scoreline extra gloss.

Ilford are back at home on Saturday, when they welcome Hullbridge, while Tower Hamlets make the trip to Southend Manor.

Clapton are due to visit Greenhouse tonight (Thursday).

Ilford: Greene, Graves, Sinclair, Maskell, Brien, Smallwood (Rix), Dobbs, Hilton, Barrett (Ogboin), Gardiner (Wetherall), Hoxhaj.