Arlesey Town could have won by more than a single goal against Saturday s opponents Ilford. It was the visitors who threatened first as Jeff Hammond slipped in between Steve Dogbe and keeper Luke Bliss and gave the Blues defence a bit of a scare. Kaan Feh

Arlesey Town could have won by more than a single goal against Saturday's opponents Ilford.

It was the visitors who threatened first as Jeff Hammond slipped in between Steve Dogbe and keeper Luke Bliss and gave the Blues defence a bit of a scare. Kaan Fehmi made a good challenge to prevent a shot on goal at the expense of a corner.

Ozie Foster put Ilford keeper Richard Wray under pressure from Arlesey's first corner but the ball was cleared to safety.

A Martyn Williams flicked header from Craig Rydeheard's free-kick forced Wray to tip the ball over the bar.

This set off a series of four corners, the final one of which gave the Blues a well-deserved lead on 23 minutes.

The third saw Dogbe's header pushed round the post and the next corner saw the ball saved, hit the crossbar and cleared off the line twice before Foster forced the ball over the line.

Arlesey started to knock the ball around with confidence and Ilford had to work hard to keep the Blues out.

The visitors relied on the offside trap to stem the flow and it was successful for a while. And Arlesey replied in kind with a tight and effective back four to keep the officials busy.

Wray rushed out of his area to head the ball off Foster's boot as Arlesey beat the offside trap with a quick break.

Michael McKenzie was often getting caught offside as Arlesey continued to press but a disputed offside decision kept Ilford off the scoresheet just before half time.

The second half followed much the same pattern as the first.

There were signs that Ilford might be able to capitalise on spaces in the Arlesey defence. And it was panic stations as Dogbe got beaten by a through ball but Fehmi was quick to get back and cover.

The pace picked up as the play switched from end to end.

Both Dogbe and Stuart Beevor had to concede corners to ease the pressure on the Blues defence.

A high late challenge on Bliss halted play for a while and a melee in the centre of the park also saw play held up.

Only poor finishing stopped Ilford from finishing and it was Arlesey who went close to a second.

Lee Tekell's shot was not too hot but keeper Wray let it drop on to his line for a scary moment.

Blues: Bliss, Fehmi, Bloss, Williams, Dogbe, McElroy, Tekell, Beevor, Foster, McKenzie (D Iwediuno), Rydeheard.