Southend Manor 0 Ilford 3 (Schweppes Essex Senior League)

AN electrifying second half performance at Southend on Monday saw Ilford continue their impressive start to the season.

They rejoined Saffron Walden at the top of the league and have now claimed ten out of the 12 points available.

The game was goalless at half time as Ilford were unable to beat Scott Barrett in the Southend net, but things were very different in the second half.

Ilford added precision and purpose to their efforts and carved out chance after chance until the breakthrough finally arrived.

Marvin Sakala prodded home after Barrett had parried an Ian March shot and five minutes later Tyrone Pickering headed the second from close range.

Southend had no answer and a third goal always looked on the cards. Casey Gryll was the scorer, slotting home after a fine solo run.

Saturday's performance against Concord was a little less convincing as Ilford failed to overcome their determined visitors.

An early strike from Henry Woodlock had put Ilford up within three minutes but they missed too many opportunities and Concord gradually clawed their way back into the match.

Concord deserved an equaliser and it arrived after 66 minutes. A right wing cross wasn't properly cleared and Tony Perry was allowed to slam the ball home at the far post.

When the same player was dismissed ten minutes later for a second bookable offence, Ilford attacked, looking to press home their advantage.

But it was Concord who found shots on goal easier to come by and a draw was a fair result at the end.

Welwyn Garden City 4 Barkingside 2

A disappointing display saw Barkingside go down to their first defeat of the season.

Far too many mistakes were made at the back and but for the agility of Mark Moralee in goal the defeat would have been heavier.

Side struggled to turn their possession into chances and didn't put the home keeper under any pressure.

City began brightly and forced Moralee into action early on and eventually took the lead in the 22nd minute when Peter Griffith was left unmarked in the middle and had time and space to convert a left wing cross.

Side struggled to get back into the game but on a rare breakaway, Lyndon Lennan was hauled down in the area and the referee gave a penalty. Reed converted in the 40th minute to make the game all square at half time.

Side took the lead in the 50th minute. Danny Sinfield's found Reed in acres of space and he made no mistake from 15 yards.

The lead didn't last long as Rob Collins skipped through five minutes later and two more soft goals followed as Side committed defensive suicide to throw the match away.

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