Essex Senior League: Tower Hamlets 3 Basildon 1
Tower Hamlets kept pace with Great Wakering Rovers in the title race with victory at a sunny Mile End Stadium.
Having drawn level on points with the leaders following their 3-1 win at Greenhouse in midweek, Hamlets needed just two minutes to open the scoring on their own turf as Kane Wilson netted.
Luke With doubled the lead just before half time, having been on target alongside Tom Harvey and Jay Taylor at Greenhouse, and Isaac made it 3-0 midway through the second half.
Basildon grabbed a consolation before the final whistle, but could not prevent AJ Olatunbosun’s side celebrating their 20th win of the campaign and extending their unbeaten run to 12 matches ahead of Tuesday’s trip to Hullbridge.
London APSA looked like they might do their east London neighbours a big favour as they took a first-half lead at Great Wakering from the penalty spot.
But the home side hit back in the second half with goals from Lewis Sparrow, Dave Collins, Dan Trenkel and Billy Johnson to seal a 4-1 win and extend their advantage over Hamlets on goal difference.
Sporting Bengal had to settle for a point against Ilford at Cricklefield Stadium.
The visitors took an early lead thanks to a fine goal from Bobby Redwood.
And Yasser Rashid had two good chances to extend the lead before half time, only for Ilford to level after the restart through Ryan Gardiner’s header.
Sporting regained the upper hand when Rashid slotted home at the third time of asking, after two earlier attempts had been blocked.
But the home side were gifted a late equaliser at a corner when a Sporting defender put the ball into his own net.
Clapton fell to a disappointing 1-0 home loss against Bowers at the Old Spotted Dog, in front of a crowd of 84.
And London Bari were without a game, having lost 2-1 at home to Barking on Thursday night.
Fixtures (league unless stated), Monday: Southend Manor v London APSA.
Tuesday: Hullbridge v Tower Hamlets; London Bari v FC Romania, Sawbridgeworth v Clapton.
Wednesday: Sporting Bengal v Southend Manor.
Thursday: London APSA v Ilford; Eton Manor v Clapton (Gordon Brasted Trophy).
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