ILFORD boss Colin Walton hopes striker Josh Coulson stays at Cricklefield after a seven-day approach from league rivals Tilbury.

ILFORD boss Colin Walton hopes striker Josh Coulson stays at Cricklefield after a seven-day approach from league rivals Tilbury.

Coulson has just began to find his form after scoring in their 2-1 win over Ware on Tuesday night and Walton doesn’t appreciate Dockers boss Paul Vaughan’s attempts to unsettle the player.

“Hopefully after the win he will decide to stay, but it’s a cheeky approach to be honest,” said the Foxes boss.

“He (Paul Vaughan) has tried to unsettle the player and I am not very happy with their approach.”

Going into the game the Cricklefield outfit were rock bottom of the league, but despite being reduced to 10 men after Cosmin Costache received his second yellow card, they were the much better side and gained an important three points, which Walton feels will give his squad the lift they need.

“I am absolutely delighted with the win and the atmosphere in the dressing room afterwards was great,” said Walton.

“The result gives everyone at the club a boost after Saturday’s loss and hopefully it’ll be the turning point in our season.”

Tuesday’s win was needed after a disappointing 4-1 defeat at home to Heybridge Swifts at the weekend, but the Ilford boss feels his side have finally got the rub of the green after some good recent performances.

“We haven’t had much luck all season despite playing well and I feel apart from the Grays game, where they blew us away, we have been knocking on the door and it’s a relief that we have got our first win.”

Walton’s side have no fixture on Saturday due to the FA Cup, with their next game on Wednesday when they host Waltham Abbey, and the Cricklefield boss feels they stand a good chance.

“Waltham are a very young side and if we impose ourselves on the game early on I feel we can get another win, so long as we are able to keep 11 men on the pitch,” he said.

In two of their last three games they have been down to 10 men, but the Foxes manager believes Costache’s sending off on Tuesday was a little harsh.

“His second card was definitely a booking, but I feel his first yellow wasn’t worth a caution,” said Walton.

“But it is something we need to eradicate as it could start to affect us if our indiscipline continues.”

Striker Sham Darr has joined the club from tenants Waltham Forest, while the former Clapton manager also looks to add to his attacking midfield options with another signing in the coming days.

“Sham has not had a fair crack of the whip with Forest and he will give me plenty of options in the striking department,” said Walton.

“I feel we need to add another midfielder to the squad and hopefully we will be able to bring this player, who started the season with Grays, into the team soon.”