Sporting Bengal
United created history by reaching their best points tally in a league season
after goals from Jay Knight and Ashaan Siddik saw them defeat Walthamstow and
all but end the visitors title/promotion aspirations for the season.
Stow came into this one off the back of eight straight
league wins and knew a ninth one would take them into second spot and only a
point behind Hullbridge, whilst the hosts were trying to end their season at
home in style, and in doing so break their current record points tally of 50
for a season, and also end a run of two straight defeats.
Chances were at a premium in the first half though and any
that did come along went to the hosts, firstly when Siddik whistled a powerful
effort wide, and then Jay Knight sent a decent volley over the visitor’s bar.
And then Curtley McIntosh almost got in for the hosts but
saw an eventual effort scuffed straight at James Bransgrove in the Stow net,
but seven minutes before the break Sporting did break the deadlock when Knight
shrugged off his marker before firing beyond Bransgrove and giving the hosts a
deserved half time lead.
Half Time Sporting
Bengal United 1 Walthamstow 0
Stow needed two goals to keep themselves in the title race
effectively so needed a quick repost, and Samrai Gebrai almost did that early
on in the period but his half effort towards goals was cleared, whilst down the
other end Knight went close to doubling the home sides lead.
Stow then went close as a Nick Symonds free kick whipped
into the far post saw Dwade James rise but head over the bar from close range,
he really should of done better in all honesty, and they almost fell further
behind but were thankful to keeper Bransgrove for making a brilliant double
save to keep his side in the contest.
Stow then saw James send a brilliant ball across the face of
goal, but a defender managed to get a head to the ball to flick it away before
anyone could convert, whilst down the other end a lovely ball from Steve
Carvell released Knight but before he could get to the ball Bransgrove raced
off his line to clear.
The visitors were running out of time to find those two
goals to keep them in the title/promotion race and saw a header off the line
before Sporting broke and saw Knight try and round Bransgrove but the keeper
brilliantly pinched the ball off his toes and gathered.
And then Stow saw another opening as a loose ball fell to
substitute Ollie Fortune but he could only slice wide under pressure, and then
Sporting again almost sealed the deal when Siddik tried to round keeper Bransgrove,
but again the keeper won out to grab the ball off the attacker.
In the 93rd minute though and with Stow pushing
for a goal, Sporting sealed it, when a bouncing ball was controlled by Carvell
and he brilliantly slid in Siddik who slotted beyond Bransgrove and ended this
contest once and for all.
James did fire wide for Stow in the remaining stoppage time
period, but it was too little too late for the visitors whose brave late charge
for the title and promotion ended here, whilst Sporting went onto 53 points for
the season, a new club record, so well done to them.
Full Time Sporting
Bengal United 2 Walthamstow 0
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