Newham make Ilford pay

Newham defeated 10-man Ilford in their Essex Senior League meeting at Cricklefield Stadium.

But Ilford manager Allan Fenn will certainly have pondered what might have been for his side on an afternoon where they conceded within the first minute and werer playing catch from then on.

The game was marred by a reckless red card for Ilford midfielder Charlie Hurlock, after which gaps opened up towards the end, and in truth Newham could have won by a wider margin.

Only 30 seconds of the game had passed before Newham were awarded a free-kick just outside the penalty area in a dangerous position.

Jack Sawyer stepped up and, after a wicked deflection from the wall, the ball trickled into the bottom corner of the net much to the dismay of the home crowd.

From that point on Ilford were chasing the game and a tight first half produced few opportunities, with most of the play taking place in the middle third.

However the best chance fell for Ilford on the quarter-hour mark when winger Sam Bubb’s low cross was prodded just wide by Brad Joseph.

Stefan Willis came closest for the away side after Akil Clarke’s through ball, but his shot went tamely wide.

Regardless of the lack of chances Ilford were beginning to play their way back into the game, giving Fenn reason to be happier as half time approached.

But then Hurlock was fouled a matter of inches from the box, giving a great opportunity for the hosts to get back into the game, only for the Ilford player to lean in with his head twice on Newham’s Patrick Campbell to receive his marching orders.

The red card seemed to invigorate Ilford after the break as, despite their numerical disadvantage, they started the second half much better.

Samson King couldn’t convert when the ball fell kindly to him and left back Chris Lockwood saw a 25-yard piledriver go just over.

Charlie Massey-Reed and Campbell defended well for Newham who doubled their lead against the run of play.

Ross Quinton’s pinpoint free-kick from the right found the head of the unmarked Sawyer, just yards from goal, and he made it 2-0 on 65 minutes.

The game opened up as legs began to tire, with Newham’s Jamal Nelson and Vendal Nunes both missing one-on-one chances.

Nunes went close with an audacious 40-yard lob, but Sam Haywood backtracked to catch the ball in time.

Then, with 10 minutes left, Ilford gave themselves a glimmer of hope when Michael Osei tapped in but Newham sealed the points on 85 minutes when Nelson beat the offside trap and calmly chipped Haywood for ihs first goal for the club.

Further chances were wasted late on and Newham boss Zakir Hussain will be disappointed at his team’s inability to convert those into goals.

But he will be unable to complain too much as his side left with the three points and bragging rights from their local derby.

Fenn will ultimately rue the red card as for large portions of the game Ilford looked the better side, but could not use their possession to make chances.

Ilford: Sam Haywood, Tom Raticom, Chris Lockwood, Charlie Hurlock, Olu Oluwaithilehin, Kendle Ahan (Luke Thomas), Brad Joseph (Eden Nelson), Samson King, Fabian Brown, Michael Osei, Sam Bubb (Karl Lewis).

Newham: Mark Richardson, Akil Clarke, Bilal Bapu, Patrick Campbell, Charlie Massey-Reed, Jamal Nelson, Vendel Nunes, Dean Pennant (Ross Quinton 46), Jack Sawyer, Stefan Willis (Frankie Williams 75), Craig Dixon (Raul Muresan 60). Unused subs: Saiid Jaffa, Simi Obileye.