I travelled to the Mile
End stadium to watch an East London Derby between Sporting Bengal United and
Clapton in the Essex Senior League. The
‘Clapton Ultras’ were there in force as per usual creating a good atmosphere as
always. The home side almost took the
lead inside three minutes but were denied a goal by a point blank save. Thereafter Clapton took control of the
contest and duly took the lead on 22 minutes when there Captain Ben Lowes arrived
into the box unmarked to turn a near post cross past keeper Jason Hartless from
about 15 yards out to give ‘The Tons’ a 1-0 lead. This became 2-0 on 36 minutes when a through
ball found Jerome Martelli and he lobbed the onrushing Hartless to put Clapton
in a commanding position. This was
strengthened even more two minutes before the break when Sporting went down to
ten men after an off the ball incident and at half time Clapton were in
complete control, 2-0 up and a man up on their hosts. Game over you would say. Well as it turned out far from it!!! Sporting came out second half and took the
game to their opponents and were soon back in the contest on 53 minutes when
Sarfraz Pivano cut inside onto his right foot before bending the ball past the
keeper from the edge of the box for 2-1.
Sporting continued to press Clapton back and it was hard to see who had
the extra man. Clapton did look
dangerous on the counter attack though so Sporting’s defence had to remain
vigilant throughout. With ten minutes of
the 90 left it was 2-2. After the keeper
had made a save he parried the ball into the path of Carlos Luis Ospina who
tapped into the roof of the net for a deserved leveller it has to be said. Both teams then went on the attack in search
of a winner and Clapton almost found one but for a brilliant double save by
Jason Hartless to keep it at 2-2.
Sporting also hit the bar from a free kick and as the game entered
stoppage time it was anyone’s game. Due
to the amount of stoppages in the second half the referee added on 13 minutes
of injury time. Ten minutes into added
time Sporting scored their winning goal.
Sarfraz Pivano, who had caused Clapton no end of problems all second
half, was sent clear and with the keeper coming out to close the angle he
composed himself and slotted past into the goal to send the Sporting players
and bench delirious with delight. It was
some comeback considering where they had found themselves at half time. Clapton tried in vain to snatch a draw by
getting the ball into the Sporting area any way possible but it was all in vain
as the referee brought an end to a cracking East London derby and a victory for
the home side of 3-2. A superb game of
football which had just about everything a fan could ask for. Well played both sides.
