LITTLE Oakley were beaten 4-1 at home by Cockfosters at the Memorial Ground in their latest Essex Senior League match, writes LARRY DOBKIN.

The Acorns came close when Rodger's attempted chip was acrobatically pushed over for a corner by the keeper.

But Cockfosters also threatened and their centre-forward shot narrowly wide.

Wood was injured in the move and needed to be substituted.

Lelliott came on and went into midfield while Dobkin moved back into the centre of defence.

Cockfosters went ahead when Lopes hurriedly hit a ball towards the Oakley goal where Joyce was coming to collect.

The ball hit Harman, allowing the visitors' striker to side-foot home.

The goal seemed to wake Oakley up, who were now playing good football and getting some passing moves going.

With the ball at Oakley man of the match Ridgway Lumley’s feet, he found Rodger who bent a ball into the Mann's path.

Mann was denied at the near post by the keeper and Rodger's deflected free-kick went off for a corner, as Oakley got on top.

The Acorns equalised when the ball was played through to Ridgway Lumley who ran through the Cockfosters defence to equalise.

The teams went in level at the break and Oakley started the second half well.

Rowe set up Ridgway Lumley who managed to get his shot off, forcing the keeper to push the ball off for a corner.

Oakley almost scored when the Cockfosters keeper's clearance fell to Rowe who was 30 yards out.

He killed the ball and chipped the keeper who was stranded and unable to get back into his goal but with the crowd already celebrating the ball hit the top of the bar and went over.

But Cockfosters restored their lead when a long ball through the middle of the Oakley defence found its way to the wing.

The ball was quickly crossed in finding Beattie at the back post for a tap in, despite Joyce's attempts to keep it out.

Mann's effort hit the keeper’s foot and went off for a corner before there was a moment of controversy when Ridgway-Lumley's through ball picked out Mann who was entering the Cockfosters box.

Okarur wrapped his arms around Mann just as he was about to shoot and appeared to pull him back and stop him from shooting only for the referee, who was close to wave play on.

The visitors made it 3-1 when Madu's long clearance upfield found the lone attacker who ran on and scored the perfect counter-attack goal.

And Cockfosters wrapped up their win when their forward latched onto a long clearance to score.