An 86th minute strike from Abdisamad gave Sporting a shock win at the Len Salmon Stadium, denting hosts Bowers promotion/title hopes in the process.
The hosts knew that a win would take them into second spot and put them well on course for promotion and they started the game in a positive fashion and saw a couple of Scott Pethers long throw’s into the Sporting box cause some alarm in the visitors penalty area inside the first few minutes.
On 11 minutes a high ball forward bounced up over keeper Lewis Lockyer, who had tried to come andclaim the ball, and saw Lewis Manor runs onto the it but his effort across goal missed the target and then two minutes later a cross from the right saw Manor’s header tipped round the post by Lockyer as Bowers continued to search for that all important opener.
However on the quarter hour mark Sporting gave the hosts a warning they weren’t just here to defend and broke down the left with Prince William but his ball across goal drifted harmlessly away. And just before the half hour mark the visitors so nearly grabbed the lead when a great effort from Tunde Adewunmi saw Martin Guest make a good save to his left.
Bowers were finding the visitors a tough nut to crack though and although the hosts had the majority of the attacking play in the half, Sporting were more than competitive as the half ended goal less.
Half Time Bowers & Pitsea 0 Sporting Bengal United 0
And the second half began with the visitors on the front foot and three minutes into it saw Mustafa Kahie’s free kick allowed to bounce through to the far post but it just invaded players coming in at the back post before Adewunmi then almost got onto a through ball but Bowers keeper Guest just managed to clear.
A few minutes later another long throw from Pethers into the Sporting area was only half cleared and saw the hosts head back into the dangerzone but Chris Bryan could not beat Lockyer with his effort, which lacked power. Then just before the hour mark Sporting went close after Toib Adeyemi saw a free kick tipped round the post by Guest whilst back up the other end minutes later a good ball from Bryan across to Rob Whitnell almost saw the striker get on the end of the pass but the defence managed to stand firm again.
Then came a spell that saw the visitors threaten to get the breakthrough and on 72 minutes saw William get in down the right but his ball across goal just missed the far post and then three minutes after this Adewunmi forced a decent save from Guest as it was the visitors looking more likely to score.
Bowers though tried as hard as they could to breakthrough themselves and with twelve minutes left a cross from the hosts was missed by the defence but then also saw Whitnell take his eye off the ball and also miss the cross. He would of been clean in front had he controlled the ball but then with six minutes left came the chance for the hosts when yet another long throw from Pethers was flicked to the back post but Manor could only scoop over whilst stretching although he should of scored.
And then it got even worse for the hosts when two minutes later, in the 86th minute, saw Sporting take the lead when Abdisamad got the ball on the right, cut inside, and drilled home from the edge of the box past Guest at the near post and saw Bowers minutes away from defeat.
The hosts pushed forward in search of a priceless point but were left vulnerable to pacey counter attacks from the visiting side and with a minute left sloppy play from the hosts saw Adewunmi play in Abdisamad whose effort flew just over the bar. Bowers though could not find the leveller and so fell to defeat. It leaves them still a point behind second spot occupied by FC Romania and six behind leadersBasildon United. Yes they have two games in hand on both but the pressure is well and truly on now.
For Sporting this is a great victory in a game they were more than competitive in. Solid in defence and pacey in attack, two attributes that should stand them in good stead going forward. They remain in 12th spot following this win.
Full Time Bowers & Pitsea 0 Sporting Bengal United 1
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