4 August 2021

 

Tower Hamlets                    1          W Odedoyin 35

Erith and Belvedere          5          D Allassani 5, Bate 35, 85, Ogunseye 61p, 79

 

DERES AMONG THE PACEMAKERS AFTER BENGA BRACE

 

Erith & Belvedere joined Glebe as the teams with two wins from two after a convincing display at Phoenix Sports Ground on Wednesday evening.

 

Rilwan Anibaba’s shoulder injury led to veteran keeper Rob O’Hara making his debut, and apart from a howler which cost a goal he had a sound debut.  Ollie Bate replaced the unavailable Keanan Allassani in the starting line-up, and the other debutant was substitute Benga Ogunseye: both of them scored twice.

 

Henry Dasofunjo gave notice of the threat he was to pose all night with a fierce 25-yard volley wide in the third minute, and two minutes later a corner from the right was fired into the goal area by Rob Curtis, and with Hamlets unable to clear the ball Drew Allassani pounced to stab the ball home.

 

The Deres continued to create opportunities, Dasofunjo’s “up and over” free-kick being pushed away by Kevin Manuel and Dave Martin having two efforts from 25 yards out.  So it came as a surprise when Hamlets equalised against the run of play in the 27th minute: a cross from the right was spilled by O’Hara, leaving Wade Odedoyin to poke a leg at the loose ball and steer it into the net, to the bewilderment of the visitors.

 

The scores remained level for less than ten minutes before Dasofunjo’s ball from the right found Ollie Bate 12 yards out, who sent a coolly-dispatched shot into the bottom right-hand corner.

 

Tyler Anderson-Parr had a good chance when a pacey run saw him through on goal only to be denied by Manuel’s legs.  Then on the stroke of half-time came the decisive moment when George Turner, already on a yellow, went in for a lunging tackle but caught the player instead of the ball, and received his marching orders.

 

The second half began with chances at both ends, Tyler Hinds’ 20-yard free-kick straight at O’Hara, while half-time sub Ogunseye was played in over the top for Deres but shot straight at Manuel.  Drew Allassani had a good chance to increase Deres’ lead in the 52nd minute, taking a ball from the right six yards out, but his shot was well saved, and with the goal gaping Allassani’s follow-up shot hit the bar.

 

On the hour mark, however, came the third goal: Ollie Bate was tripped in the box and Ogunseye made no mistake sending the penalty into the bottom left hand corner to all but seal the win.  Ogunseye also got the best goal of the night, when a good pass found him on the right side of the box and he coolly beat Manuel with an exquisite chip.

 

Bate joined Ogunseye with a brace when he cut in from the left wing in the 85th minute and showed great composure to sit Manuel down and slot the ball home.  Indeed both players had goals disallowed for offside when in many spectators’ eyes they were behind the ball when it was crossed, so Deres could have been looking at a bigger win and two hat-tricks!  It was a convincing display and Deres’ new line-up is settling in nicely for the new season.

 

TOWER HAMLETS: Kevin Manuel; Ayorinde Omoyai, Ishmed Turai (Nader Zessini 56), Tola Odedoyin, Levi Fernandes, Tyler Hinds (Seye Okunlola 62), Wale Odedoyin, Tami Ogunnowo (Trevor Harding 75), Elliot Assi Balo, Tarome Hemmings, George Turner.

DERES: Rob O’Hara; Kazzeem Richards, Max Pell, Drew Allassani, Rob Curtis, Reece Barrett, Henry Dasofunjo, Dave Martin (Louis Sprosen 75), Calum Willock (Benga Ogunseye ht), Ollie Bate, Tyler Anderson-Parr (Dean McDonald 62).  Subs: Tom McNamee, Matt Neary, Louis Sprosen.