Essex Senior League, Saturday 7th October
The first Saturday in October, still too early in the season
to have six pointers, right? Probably…. but Mile End was my location for a huge
and potential six pointer at the top of the Essex Senior League as fourth
placed and surprise package Sporting Bengal United hosted unbeaten league
leaders Woodford Town.
My day began earlier than normal after I was invited onto
the hosts pre match podcast show where we discussed today’s game and how it
would go (many thanks to the club for allowing me to appear on this show by the
way, feel very privileged to be invited on as a guest) and we certainly thought
it was a hard one to call as both sides are full of confidence right now. (That
podcast can be found here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a8Xoiz1poDg)
Sporting are many peoples surprise package so far, I saw
their first two games of the season, both wins away from home after going
behind in both, turning a 1-0 deficit at Great Wakering Rovers into a 2-1 win,
and then coming back from 2-0 down at Ilford to win 4-2 (this seems to be a
trend this season, which shows belief and character in the squad), and these
were not flashes in the pan as they have gone onto take twenty two points in
their eleven league games so far to take their place inside the play off
places.
Visitors Woodford were my dark horses for the season and I
felt after the way they ended last season they would continue that and make a
right crack at promotion and even the title this term, well so far they have
outshone all, taking twenty seven points from eleven games and have a five
point cushion back to West Essex, Romford and today’s opponents Sporting who
are the ones closest to them in the standings.
Woodford are also the only side in the division who have not
lost in the league so far (eight wins & three draws) so could Sporting be
the first club this season to end that unbeaten run in the division, well home form
for the hosts certainly suggests a tough game for the visitors as Sporting are
yet to lose at home this season in any competition (six games) and they have
won their last three at home too, so it certainly is ‘fortress Mile End’ this
season.
Sporting in fact haven’t tasted defeat themselves since a
3-1 reverse at Tilbury seven games ago back on 15th August, there
only league defeat of the season so far, and there only other loss came on
penalties in the FA Cup at Stansfield, this after being 3-0 down in the
original tie after just eight minutes and twice coming back to earn a 4-4 draw,
so Sporting are not used to losing either.
They will hold no fears against the league leaders despite
Woodford’s brilliant start to the campaign, the side from Ashton’s only loss in
their seventeen games so far in all competitions was at home to a very decent
Step Four side in Felixstowe & Walton United in the FA Cup, this after they
had knocked out two Step Four sides in Hertford Town and Bowers & PItsea,
so they can certainly mix it with sides a level above too.
And since that FA Cup defeat on September 2nd
they have won four of their six games in all competitions, five of those were
in the league, only dropping points to Hullbridge Sports (that was a late
leveller) and Little Oakley, who also needed a late leveller to deny the league
leaders, in fact late goals have been something Woodford Town enjoy, so the
hosts here would need to be on their metal for the entire game.
So, the hosts like to come from behind, and the visitors
like a late goal, well goals have not been an issue for either side, Sporting
have managed twenty-six so far whilst Woodford have netted thirty, a combined
fifty-six goals, and that’s just in the league alone!!! Therefore (and I say
this with much trepidation!!!) this game must have goals in it for sure!!!
Let’s find out what happened hey…..
The hosts actually started well, and were the better side for the opening half hour or so, but once Woodford took a 32nd minute lead, it went downhill from there for the hosts, that own goal came when lovely work down the left by Ernest Okoh saw his powerful ball across the box strike a defensive player and end up in the net, and then five minutes later the task got harder for the home side when Okoh turned goal scorer this time as Luke Parrott's brilliant play inside the box saw the ball fall into the path of Okoh who could not miss from a yard out, and now Woodford were in control all of a sudden.
And unlike previous deficits where Sporting fought back to grab something from the game, on this occasion they could not do this, and lacked a bit of fight and energy if truth be told, some of their players looked tired and Woodford did enough to keep any home attacking prowess out, and then with eighteen minutes remaining they struck a killer blow by adding a third goal to seal this game once and for all when Parrott again turned provider, sliding in David Gokou-Siakouri to fire across goal and in off the far post, it was another clinical finish from the visiting league leaders.
Bengal continued to huff and puff but were having an off day in front of goal, but they never really looked like getting back into the contest and were up against a superior side on the day, especially after they had grabbed that first half lead, and there was still time for Woodford to add a fourth goal in stoppage time when Parrott managed to get his goal, punishing sloppy defending to slot home and cap a clinical display from the league leaders.
This is a wake up call for the home side who must not allow this disappointment to define their season, it's been a superb start for the hosts and they must now put this behind them, learn from it and move on, which I am sure they will do, whereas for Woodford that's now nine win's from twelve league games, still a five point cushion at the top (West Essex and Romford both won too) as there brilliant start to the season continued.
Finally I would just like to thank the hosts, especially Clarky (manager) Matty G (assistant) and Luke (podcast host and keeper coach) for their wonderful hospitality today, it was a very enjoyable day and it was nice to share the off the field stuff with you and get an insight to how your club works, good things are happening there so I am sure you will be right up there come the end of the season, also was nice to catch up with Shane Baptiste (Woodford manager), Dee Safer (assistant) and James Walkinshaw from the visitors too, Shane even wanted a photo taken with me, which was a pleasant surprise!!!
It's nice to see these people show me so much love and support and appreciate what I do, it really does make it all worthwhile, and really does make a difference to me, so thank you, it is very much appreciated.....
Full time Sporting Bengal United 0 Woodford Town 4
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