Goals from Harry Honesty, Ross Gleed and George Smith saw Hashtag run out 3-0 winners at the Mayesbrook Park Arena on a cold afternoon in Barking.
In a game that offered little by the way of clear cut chances, it was the hosts who had the first chance. Some good place down the left-hand side saw the West Essex player in behind, but his snapshot was well saved Louis Hawes at his near post.
Cagey Clash
The match was a cagey affair that was slightly edged by the home side. Hashtag broke the deadlock in the 24th minute. A simple sideways ball passed the edge of the area and was met sweetly by Samaraj Gill, a superb save from West Essex shot-stopper Jack Coker wasn’t enough as the rebound was met by winger Harry Honesty to put the guests in the ascendancy.
The goal seemed to calm any lingering Hashtag nerves and they started to dominate proceedings, after pushing hard for a second they went into the half time break 1-0 up.
The second half started as the first one ended, with Hashtag looking the more dangerous team. Six minutes after the restart, they doubled their league. A mazy and direct run into the box by attacking midfielder Jesse Waller-Lassen drew a careless foul and the away side were awarded a penalty. Ross Gleed stepped up and cooly tucked the penalty into the bottom corner. The midfielder now has 10 goals in 14 games this season.
Cruising
The penalty essentially took any wind left in the West Essex sails, Hashtag were cruising to a routine victory when Waller-Lassen whipped a great ball into the box, a deflection off a Hashtag player caused Coker to get down sharply to his right and tip the ball around the post.
Two then became three, as the Tilbury outfit worked the ball down the right after finding George Smith, his shot deflected off a West Essex head and looped over the backtracking Coker to seal all three points.
A routine win for the league leaders, and a very alarming spell of form from West Essex, who have now picked up just one point from their last five outings.
