Ilford striker Adelani sends a warning ahead of West Essex clash
Yemi Adelani of Ilford (pic Gavin Ellis/TGS Photo) - Credit: Gavin Ellis/TGS Photo
Striker Yemi Adelani has sent a warning to the Essex Senior League to not write Ilford off just yet.
The Foxes play host to fellow mid-table outfit West Essex at Cricklefield Stadium on Saturday as they look to continue causing upsets around the league.
But he does expect a tough test against the Mayesbrook Park-based club when they pay a visit.
“We want to climb up the table, not lose focus on our objectives, but it is still early in the season so no one should be writing Ilford off,” Adelani insisted.
“We’ve got a good manager in Martin Haywood, good players who are trying to climb up to Bostik level, and plenty of youngsters here that are talented as well.
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“It should be a good game, but a challenging one as well.
“They’re a good side, they’re very dynamic on the ball, they have a couple of quick wingers and are very solid at the back.
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“At the same time if we hit them on the counter with our speed and our talent on the break then we can capitalise on that.”
The club’s top goalscorer believes that being so close in the league table adds extra motivation to the clash.
“It’s added incentive and motivation as they’re near us in the table,” he added.
“We played them a couple times before in cup games, and what they possessed was a long ball threat, and height at set-pieces, which is more or less our catalyst in recent games.
“But we kept the ball well at their ground and comfortably beat them 2-1 in that match so we will look to build on that.”
Adelani has already found the net 13 times in all competitions this season – seven times in the league and six more in cup competitions.
And he is thriving off playing at the Foxes and feels his team-mates deserve a lot of the credit.
“That’s a striker’s dream to be scoring as many goals as possible, but it’s not only because of me,” he said.
“Without my team-mates I don’t feel like I would have got them scoring opportunities.
“I’m glad I’m getting goals and making noise for myself as well. We’ve also got plenty of other guys who can score goals, but I can deal with the pressure.”
