Walthamstow’s unbeaten start to the Essex Senior League season under boss Ryan Maxwell is over, after they were comfortably beaten 4-1 by current leaders Takeley.

Stuart Zanone scored a first half brace to put Takeley in cruise control at the break and Charlie Cole seemingly wrapped up the victory when he made it 3-0 in the 78th minute.

James Peagram pulled one back for Stow ten minutes from time with his third goal for the club since his summer move, but that strike proved to be nothing more than a consolation, as Cole added his second of the game to restore Takeley’s three goal advantage.

Meanwhile, Redbridge recorded their first league win of the campaign, as Calvin Poku’s brace guided them to a 3-1 away win over Tower Hamlets.

The striker, who was in excellent form for the Motormen last season, converted the quickest goal of the day when he put Redbridge in front inside 60 seconds and they doubled their advantage before the break through an own goal.

Poku added his second just before the hour mark to make it 3-0, but their chances of recording their first clean sheet of the campaign were blown when Amon Walton-Owen notched a consolation on the stroke of full-time.

Ilford were held to a goalless draw away to Leyton Athletic while West Essex slipped to their third consecutive league defeat in mid-week, after losing 2-0 to St Margaretsbury thanks to strikes from Ramone Cassidy-Sinclair and Steven Wade.

Elsewhere, in the Essex Olympian League Premier Division, Steven Townsend netted a hat-trick for Buckhurst Hill, who thrashed Old Southendian 6-2 in their first game of the season.