Having made their longest trip of the season on a Wednesday night, Harwich started well and for the first half hour, you could not tell which side was the one challenging for promotion.
During this spell, the Shrimpers hit the bar and also forced a couple of good saves from home keeper Max Pitman, who had played in the Baller League on Monday.
Debutant Jack Cosby, formerly of Little Oakley and Cornard, had made a decent start at right-back but the Shrimpers’ failure to get in front proved costly.
The hosts took the lead slightly against the run of play, the goal coming courtesy of a defensive mix-up.
When Harwich failed to usher the ball out of play, Tower Hamlets found Keanu Hill, who put them in front.
Disappointed to be a goal down at the break, the Shrimpers came out determined to mount a fightback but were instead stunned by three goals in a seven-minute spell as their hosts moved up a couple of gears.
On 59 minutes, Shomari Barnwell touched the ball home from close range. The same player then added his second with a good finish, low into the bottom corner.
And when Michael Agboola headed home a corner, the game had been put well beyond the visitors.
The scoreline was a tad harsh on Harwich, although it served to underline their struggles against the Essex Senior League’s top sides this season.
In 12 games against the current top eight, they have won only two points, conceding 38 goals in the process.
There is no respite on that front with seventh-placed Woodford next up on the Royal Oak on Saturday (kick-off 3pm).
Harwich team: Brad Cook, Jack Cosby, Tiwa Odufuye, Jenson Goode, Charlie Canham, Jack Wood, Zac Pedro, Alfie Canning, Joe Knight, Liam White, Louie Bloom. Subs: Oakley McNair, Reece Harte, Tom Watkins, Luke Hopwood (all used) and John Watkins (not used)