In our first and only Essex Senior League fixture of the month, a superb individual performance from Ollie Sotoyinbo secured all three points for Shane Baptiste's side against Harwich & Parkeston, who came into the clash full of confidence following a 5-1 midweek win over Hackney Wick.

From the get-go, Woodford Town had set out to dominate. Early chances were aplenty, with Jibran Ahmed's cross to Marko Protic seeing the latter fire a volley just wide of William Healy's goal after less than two minutes. Just moments later, the duo linked up again, with Ahmed rounding the 'keeper before being denied by an incredible sliding tackle.

The early pressure eventually led to the previously resolute Shrimpers defence caving, as Ollie Sotoyinbo fired The Woods into the lead with 23 minutes on the clock. Solomon Ofori's delivery was inch-perfect, finding the feet of our number nine, who flicked it round the corner and into the bottom corner! 1-0.

On the brink of half-time, Sotoyinbo was amongst the action again as he doubled our lead. Staying alert after Ahmed's shot fell into his path, our number nine poked home to put us in full control ahead of the interval. But just five minutes after the break, that control looked in doubt as Solomon Ofori was shown a straight red card for catching his marker with a high foot as he contested for the ball.

The man advantage sparked something of a resurgence for the visitors, but that was quickly put to bed as The Woods stamped their authority on the fixture, battling for every first and second ball and standing strong in defence. The introduction of Manny Martins put the game to bed, as within four minutes of his entry to the pitch, our left-back had produced two perfect, near-identical assists for Ollie Sotoyinbo to notch his hat-trick, and then a fourth.

Harwich pulled a goal back in the dying moments of the ninety, but it was too little too late as The Woods secured all three points ahead of Tuesday's crunch encounter with Mulbarton Wanderers in the Emirates FA Cup.

Starting XI: Jones (GK); Owusu (C), Agboola, Hastings, Danquah (Ayvaz - 82); Jewers, Kebi (Kot - 76'), Protic (Kirwan-Meade - 73'); Ofori, Sotoyinbo (Sergio - 90'), Ahmed (Martins - 73').

Unused substitutes: N/A