After their FA Cup exploits last weekend, Ilford manager Allan Fenn is keen for his side to keep up their form when Stansted visit Cricklefield Stadium on Saturday.

The Foxes will entertain the Airportmen and seek to extend their unbeaten record in the Essex Senior League this campaign.

Confidence is high in the camp after Karolis Atutis scored the only goal of the game at the Len Salmon Stadium last week to earn Fenn’s team a 1-0 win against Bowers & Pitsea in the extra preliminary round of the FA Cup.

Ilford currently have four points from two league fixtures and will be keen to add to that tally on Saturday against Stansted.

But Fenn warned: “Any side at the moment wants to play us because we are being tipped as favourites to win the league, which is ridiculous!

“Stansted are a good side and came to our place last season and beat us comprehensively.

“We are a different team now and doing much better and we are a lot fitter. We can’t wait for Saturday to come.

“Stansted are looking to be in the top six this season and we want to be playing those sides.”

Fenn has scouted this weekend’s opposition and is certain a good footballing clash will occur at Cricklefield.

He called for his players to listen to his instructions again this weekend after they failed to do so against London Bari, where the Foxes only earned a 1-0 win.

Fenn added: “I told the players after we beat Bowers ‘if you listen to me and my backroom team it will win us games’.

“If you play like you want to, we will perform how we did against Bari, where we were lucky and I was very disappointed. I will be critical of my players because I know what they are capable of.”

They certainly showed that on Saturday as they beat Bowers to pocket £1,500 in prize money as well as progress to the next round to host Stanway Rovers.

It was a result which pleased Fenn, but not one that surprised him because he knows the ability of the squad available to him.

“On Saturday we adopted a different system to combat the attacking threat Bowers have and it worked very well,” said Fenn.

“It was fantastic to receive the sum of money we did. The chairman is forever digging into his own pocket and the players are paying for things.

“I’m paying for things and so are my staff. To have £1,500 to go back into the club is brilliant and needed.”

George Sessions
Ilford Recorder