Stansted do double over Stags

Waltham Forest’s recent form took another hit in the shape of a 3-1 loss at home to Stansted. A goal from Solomon Ofori was not enough to take any of the points in Forest’s second defeat to the Essex side this season.

Ofori levelled the score late in the first half but goals for the visitors from Jinan Lewis and Oliver Fortune condemned the Stags to their fifth league defeat at Wadham Lodge.

The loss meant the Stags remained fourth in the league, but without a win in three games. The teams around them all have at least three games in hand, making it even more important that Waltham get back to winning ways soon.

The resilience of Stansted has certainly increased since an inconsistent first half of the season and the home side found it difficult to create much in the opening stages. Solomon Ofori linked up well with Jose Agua, and went close to opening the score after 12 minutes but his effort flew wide of the target.

After Stansted managed to mount some pressure, Forest conceded a sloppy goal from a corner. A lack of communication left goalkeeper William Hunt with no option other than to try and punch the ball clear but then he was swarmed by men in the box and the 17-year-old fumbled the ball into his own net. Hunt did, however, deny a second goal minutes later when a powerfully hit free kick from the half way line had to be tipped around the goalkeeper’s left-hand post.

Midway through the first half, Forest began to respond to the one goal deficit and a catalogue of chances followed. A brilliant piece of individual skill saw Luke Ifil hit the post after he controlled the ball with his left foot and then volleyed it with his right from the edge of the box. Ofori also went close after latching onto Flatie Traore’s diagonal long ball, but his first-time shot was straight at the keeper.

However, it was Hassana Traore who would have the most spectacular chance of the half. The attacking midfielder rose well to meet Ibrahim Sari’s cross from the right wing and with the keeper beaten, his superb overhead kick rattled against the crossbar.

Spurred on by their dominant spell, Forest finally got their breakthrough. Flatie Traore started a counterattack that was followed by a quick one-two pass with Ofori and Agua. The striker kept his composure as he calmly dribbled around the on-rushing goalkeeper and ran the ball into the net.

After the break, Stansted would have more joy from the set piece. This time a corner was met by centre-half Jinan Lewis who made no mistake in putting the visitors back in front. Their lead was soon extended to two when Oliver Fortune’s snap shot beat Hunt from 10 yards.

The two-goal lead gave Stansted some breathing space and they began to control the pace of the game. Despite Forest trying to get themselves back into it, Stansted’s efficiency was superior as they defended tightly and successfully shut out the Stags for the rest of the game leaving the visitors trailing their opponents by just two points with five games in hand.

Despite the recent run of results not going Forest’s way, manager Turgot Esendagli remained positive and felt his side were unlucky at times during their most recent defeat.

“It was an enjoyable game to watch for the spectator and that is what the game is all about. We dominated the first half but we did not convert enough of our chances. We needed to do that as we were not as effective in the second half,” he said.

And Esendagli had some encourging words for his young goalkeeper despite his blunder and he believes Hunt will continue to improve.