Cockfosters 4 Sporting Bengal United 0

Essex Senior League, Saturday 12th December 2020

So, after several weeks, I was back at a football game, and it came from Chalk Lane as Cockfosters welcomed Sporting Bengal United to North London for an Essex Senior League contest.

Fosters have begun the season well and sat third at kick off, and they returned to action last weekend with a late late win at Hoddesdon Town, whilst Sporting were in the lower half of the table and were beaten 3-0 at Walthamstow on their return to action last weekend.

The hosts certainly began on the front foot and after just five minutes grabbed the lead when a cross from the right found its way over to full back Vinny Durrant who sent a left footed effort towards goal which Ferriera managed to get a big hand to but could only help it on its way into the net.

The visitors were struggling to deal with their opponents and Durrant somehow missed an easier chance to double the hosts lead when an initial effort was blocked and came back to him, but he could readjust and sent an effort wide of the gaping goal, whilst another good ball in from the right saw Carl Mullings get a head onto the ball but send it wide of the visitors’ post.

Sporting though after a slow start began to find their feet and saw Chaka Barnett fire into the side netting, before a Joel Ramos free kick was brilliantly tipped onto the bar by Bradley Robinson, and then a corner from El Amri Soulayman thumped against the near post before Gianfranco Mici fired the loose ball over the bar.

Kaidyn Michael did see a deflected effort go just wide of the visitor’s goal late on in the half but after a good half hour from the home side, the visitors certainly felt they could have gone into the break level, but it was Fosters who held that slender lead at the break in what had become a tight and scrappy contest on a very heavy sodden pitch.

Half Time Cockfosters 1 Sporting Bengal United 0

The second period began much like the first, with the hosts on the front foot, and after a cross from the right almost caught out Ferriera at his near post and required the keeper to tip over smartly, centre half Marcus Crowther headed just wide of the visitor’s post, and then Mullings got in down the right but saw his effort well saved by Ferriera.

After that initial burst from the hosts though, much like the first half, they took their foot of the gas and allowed Sporting to come onto them again, with their best chances seeing Shayan Ghamarinezhad poke just wide from inside the box and then after Robinson had slipped trying to gather the ball, Carlos Hubner could only chip over the bar.

But then came a six-minute spell which saw Fosters seal the contest, firstly doubling their lead midway through the half when James Verney converted from close range after a George Beattie effort had been saved, and then it was three moments later after Mullings converted at the far post.

And with the visitors falling apart they conceded again with eighteen minutes remaining as a ball found an unmarked Beattie who lofted beyond Ferriera from close range, and the hosts ended up cruising to the win and pick up a second win and clean sheet since they returned to action this month.

Full Time Cockfosters 4 Sporting Bengal United 0

 

This is what it did to the ESL table…

Fosters remain in third and five points behind leaders Hashtag United, whilst Sporting are in 12^th and locked on thirteen points with Redbridge and Southend Manor.  Fosters next game sees them travel to Oakside on Tuesday to take on Redbridge, whilst Sporting travel to face Takeley at Station Road on the same night.

 

Here are some photos of today’s game…