Advent Calendar 2015: Day 3 – Waltham Forest 4-3 Ilford

Forest made a blistering start to the 2011-12 season. As well as reaching the second qualifying round of the FA Cup, they also reached the lofty position of second in the table at one point.

Lead by Jeff Hammond, who scored 11 goals in 19 starts before moving on, Forest only lost twice in their opening 13 league games.

The final victory in that runcame in the form of a 4-3 win over then-landlords Ilford, on 15 October 2011.

Ilford were managed by Colin Walton, who would go on to be Forest’s assistant manager. They eventually finished 20th in the league this season, surviving the drop on goal difference.

The Ilford team that day contained Sid Anguiley, Clydie Roberts, Sam Adejokun and Stuart Houghton – who had all previously played for Forest, and also Raffaele Kaphouris, who played for Forest last season.

Manu Dagher gave Forest the lead after just seven minutes, notching his third goal of the season, while Jamie Moore added a second with his first goal for the club.

The afore mentioned Kaphouris got a goal back for Ilford on 25, but Joel Palmer restored the advantage just after the half-hour mark.

Stephen Opoka gave Ilford hope again mid-way though the second half, but Dagher’s second put the result beyond any doubt.

Wale Adedoyan did get a goal back for Ilford on 93, but it proved to be too little, too late.

Went on to better things:

Gaz Dauti has played for a number of Ryman Premier League clubs, while Peggy Lokando is now at Billericay Town in the Conference South. Billy Healey top-scored at Hanwell Town in the 2014-15 Southern League, and is now top scorer for Wingate & Finchley in the Ryman Premier League.

Disappeared from view:

Despite Forest sitting second in the table, a lot of the squad would fail to establish themselves as senior non-league players. Richard Shittu, Tashan Nicholas, Lukman Mojeed, Andras Molnar and Billy Melton all haven’t been seen since playing for Forest.

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