Essex Senior League: Clapton 1 Southend Manor 0

Clapton 1 Southend Manor 0

Nathan Cook produced a superb finish to earn Tons the points at the Old Spotted Dog.

Anthony Da Silva flicked the ball on for Cook, who tucked home before the break to open the scoring.

But the home side had to defend well in the second half to preserve their clean sheet and bank all three points to remain third in the table ahead of their Gordon Brasted Memorial Trophy semi-final clash with Wadham Lodge on Tuesday.

Tons reached the final of the competition last season, before losing to Barking at Burnham’s Leslie Field.

And they were also defeated in the league cup final by Bowers, who are now dreaming of Wembley after reaching the FA Vase semi-finals this season.

Improving Tons will be hoping it’s a case of third time lucky for them as they look to pick up some silverware of their own.

Clapton: Diagne, Haighton, Barry, Olujimi-Oshin, Taylor-Reid, Ocran, Cookey, Waldron, Da Silva, Cook, Zinga. Subs: Lemba, Berry, Gomez.

****

Basildon United 5 Newham 0

Bottom club Newham were left well beaten by the high-flying Bees.

Fahad Nyanja went close for the hosts early on, while captain Jordan Williams fired a good chance over as well.

But Brad Warner opened the scoring on 20 minutes, going clean through and slotting past Robert Hatton, and goals two minutes apart made it 3-0 to end the match as a contest.

Mitchell Hunter fired home a cross on his Basildon debut to double their lead on the half-hour mark, with Jack Adlington headed in Warner’s cross moments later.

Adlington made it 4-0 before the interval when his cross evaded everyone and found Hatton’s net, but Basildon were reduced to 10 men when Vinny Murphy was dismissed for a second bookable offence.

Newham could not take advantage of their numerical advantage, with Shomari Barnwell twice going close for the home side in the opening minutes of the second half.

Warner and Nyanja both failed to convert a Rob Clarke free-kick at close range, before substitute Anton Stephenson took a pass from Warner and fired home a shot on the turn.

Basildon could have had more, with Luke Lamarr Douglas firing over and Stephenson forcing a fingertip save from Hatton.

Newham had a chance of a late consolation when Vlad Sighiartau was brought down in the box, but he fired the spot-kick wide of the target to compound another miserable day for the visitors, who are set to host Waltham Forest at Tilbury’s Chadfields on Tuesday.

Newham: Hatton, Clarke, Jennings, Brown, Shaw, Nsamu, Agdelen, Churchouse, Sighiartau, Cooper, Thomas. Subs: Parker, Larkin, Umerji, Wilson.

*Tower Hamlets slipped to a 4-1 home defeat against leaders FC Romania at Mile End Stadium.

It was a sixth successive loss for Ade Abayomi’s youngsters, who had been put to the sword by second-placed Barking on Tuesday in an 8-0 reverse at Mayesbrook Park.

Hamlets are due to host Burnham on Monday and visit Greenhouse on Wednesday in a busy week.

*London Bari’s trip to Eton Manor was postponed, but they are due to visit Basildon on Tuesday.

Sporting Bengal were without a fixture this weekend, but are due to visit Hullbridge on Tuesday.