My first visit to the V & E Sports Ground on the outskirts of Broxbourne saw me take in an Essex Senior League clash between Eton Manor and Sporting Bengal United.
The hosts had been having a mixed season with some good results followed by some disappointing ones, one being their home loss to Enfield 1893 at the weekend. Sporting on the other hand slipped to the foot of the table at the weekend after a rather poor start to the season so both sides would be looking to try and put their weekend’s disappointments behind them with a good performance here.
And it was the hosts who got their noses in front on nine minutes as sloppy play from the visitors allowed the hosts in and a ball across goal was duly tapped home by Joe Bricknell. The visitors almost responded seven minutes later when they had two good chances to find the net in quick succession but saw Manor keeper Michael Chowdry make two good saves.
And then moments later the hosts doubled their lead as Josh Skykes got in but saw an effort saved before the follow up from Bricknell smashed against the bar but the Manor attacker was quickest to react and he netted the rebound for his and Manor’s second. And the hosts quickly made it three two minutes afterwards as the ball broke to Ryan Marriott on the edge of the box and he placed an effort into the corner with ease.
Things were to get even worse for the Mile End side midway through the first half when centre halfDavid Tarwala was shown a straight red for a professional foul on Sykes and this kind of suggested Sporting would be in for a very long night although the resulting free kick from Bricknell sailed way over the visitors goal.
Soon afterwards the visitors fired an effort just wide of goal from distance but on 27 minutes the hosts made it four when Sykes got through and rounded the keeper before slotting home. The visitors had been defensively woeful in the game and it looked like Manor could score at will in this contest.
On the half hour mark Manor again got in down the left hand side but saw a lofted cross shot drift beyond the far post whilst up the other end another visitors effort went just wide of far post before Sporting saw an effort curl just wide. If they had taken some of their chances this game could of been a lot closer.
However whilst their attacking was ok their defending was abysmal at best and ten minutes before half time a chance for the hosts saw good work down the right from Bricknell and he played the ball across to Sykes but the striker could only send his effort inches wide of the far post.
However eight minutes before half time Sykes managed to win a penalty for the hosts when he was fouled just inside the box and Bricknell stepped up to convert the spot kick for his hat-trick and Manor’s fifth of the half. It had been a clinical performance from the hosts who had capitalized on some pretty poor defending from the away side.
Half Time Eton Manor 5 Sporting Bengal United 0
Sykes almost had his second and Manor’s sixth six minutes into the second period when volleying just over the bar but three minutes later he did find the net, converting from close range, meanwhile one of floodlights appeared to be catching fire just to the left of the benches and had an extinguisher used on it by one of the coaching staff. Luckily for the hosts the light remained in tact thereafter!!
Just past the hour mark the hosts had another good chance but saw keeper Denzel Kobia save and then minutes later Manor skipper Joe Johnson went down after getting his studs caught in the turf and was screaming in pain for a minute or two. After a couple more minutes of treatment he was helped off to the dugout with what looked like a serious leg injury. We wish him all the best and hope it’s not to bad.
The game took on a rather going through the motions feel until the 79th minute when the hosts netted their seventh as Sykes completed his hat-trick, converting a cross from close range. The hosts then missed four real guilt edged chances in the next four minutes as they threatened to hit double figures, and to be honest they really should of done, but they somehow failed to find the net again.
With two minutes to go Sporting nearly grabbed a consolidation but saw an effort blocked on route to goal before the last moment of the contest saw Sporting force a decent save from host keeper Chowdry but they were well beaten and remain bottom of the division after a shocking defensive showing at Goffs Lane.
For Eton Manor though it was a great response after the weekend’s loss and they will hope to take the form on going forward although no doubt will come up far better defences than this one although with players like Bradbury, Sykes and Bricknell in their side they will always pose a threat going forward.
Full Time Eton Manor 7 Sporting Bengal United 0
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