Kings Langley 6 Sporting Bengal United 1

The Emirates FA Cup First Qualifying Round, Saturday 3rd September 2016

So it was back to FA Cup action for me at the weekend when I visited the Hertfordshire village of Kings Langley to see if Sporting Bengal United to spring a surprise and make more history in this famous old competition.

The hosts had been fairly used to success in the last three years, winning two promotions on the spin to ply their trade in the Evo-Stik Southern Premier, Step three in the non league pyramid, and they were up against a side who play in Step Five football in the Essex Senior League who had enjoyed a decent historic making cup run so far.

However if the visitors were to have any chance of a surprise result a good start to the tie would be crucial. Sadly this didn’t happen as the hosts won a penalty after six mins when David Vaughan brought down full back Steve Ward after the Langley player had made a good run down the right. Lewis Toomey stepped up to convert the spot kick and the hosts had their early goal to settle any nerves they might have had.

Sporting almost responded straight away however when they saw Shibli Miah’s effort palmed away by Danny Boness as they looked to shock their hosts with a quick repost, however if you go one nil down the last thing you want to do is fall further behind but this is exactly what happened to Sporting as on nine minutes good work down the left by winger Oran Swales saw his cross deflected high into the air and saw David Hutton volley a first time effort from the edge of the box expertly into the top corner and the visitors already had a mountain to climb.

It was just the start the hosts would have dreamed of whilst for Sporting it was exactly what they had not wanted. However the visitors were far from being outplayed and were doing ok despite the scoreline but would need to find an extra something if they were going to get back into the contest.

The hosts unsurprisingly had a bit extra going forward and Toomey almost had his second when he got in on goal but saw Lewis Lockyer save but then moments later Toomey really should of netted when after getting through again he rounded Lockyer and saw the ball roll on and hit the post but the strikers rebound effort flew across an unguarded net and away from danger.

However Toomey made amends five minutes before the break when he volleyed home from close range and saw the hosts go into the break three goals to the good. The visitors had battled and competed well but just found the higher league opponents clinical up front when it mattered.

Half Time Kings Langley 3 Sporting Bengal United 0

Sporting knew an early goal may give them hope of an unlikely comeback and they certainly started the half well, having a couple of efforts on goal, and then six minutes into the second period they found that goal when Miah found himself in behind the Langley defence and he slotted beyond Boness and into the far corner.

Sporting knew if they could force another goal it really would make it an interesting tie but the hosts were not about to be surprised like that and soon forced visiting keeper Lockyer into action when the stopper had to be smart to palm a hosts effort away for a corner as they looked to try and re-establish their three goal cushion.

And just before the hour mark the hosts struck twice in two minutes to end any slight hope the visitors had of a comeback when firstly on 56 minutes they did restore their three goal lead when Ryan Plowright turned home from close range and then on 58 minutes Hutton curled home a delightful effort beyond Lockyer from just inside the box to see the hosts in a very commanding position at 5-1 up with half an hour or so left.

To Sporting’s credit they kept going when many would of possibly just thrown in the towel and struck another effort wide just on the hour mark. They were still competing well but just could not deal with the hosts attacking prowess and they almost conceded a sixth when Sean Coughlan, on as a substitute for the hosts, found himself in on goal but his finish hit the inside of post.

With around twenty minutes to go Sporting were still going for a second goal as goalscorer Miah managed to break the offside trap but as he tried to cut back he lost the ball under a challenge and eventually fouled the defender trying to retrieve the lost ball. The hosts then got in down the left hand side as Sporting’s offside trap failed but keeper Lockyer came out to close the angle and see the ball eventually blocked behind for a corner.

The last ten minutes or so saw Sporting giving it a real good go in the rain that had now arrived in Hertfordshire but they were unable to really test keeper Boness to much and then with five minutes to go Toomey, who really should of wrapped up his hat-trick already, finally did just that when he got clean through and rounded Lockyer to slot home the hosts sixth and final goal.

So despite the visitors giving it a really good go in this tie they ultimately found the Southern Premier hosts just too strong on the day. It’s been a good cup run for the Sporting Bengal boys though and they should be proud of that fact. Well done to hosts Kings Langley though whose cup run continues in two weeks time.

Full Time Kings Langley 6 Sporting Bengal United 1

Sporting Bengal United 1 Tower Hamlets 2

Essex Senior League, Wednesday 31st August 2016

So Wednesday night saw me at my first ever Mile End derby as Sporting Bengal Unitedhosted Tower Hamlets in an ESL encounter.

It a game both sides do not want to lose and for hosts Sporting it was only their second game of the league campaign whilst for Hamlets they were looking to put a difficult start to their season behind them.

Sporting of course have a big FA Cup tie on Saturday and perhaps this was on the players minds as the opening ten minutes definitely belonged to the visitors as they had pretty much all the possession and attacking intent.

In fact this carried on for pretty much the first twenty minutes of the contest until the hosts struck with their first attack of note on 20 minutes when a loose ball was bundled home by Codey Cameron from close range to give the hosts a scarcely deserved lead.

The goal understandably lifted the previously subdued hosts and they so nearly added a second minutes later when Kadir Jama hit the crossbar from a free kick although from the resulting clearance Hamlets almost got in down the other end but saw the defence somehow scramble clear.

Despite the visitors having the majority of the attacking play, without any final touch, Bengal creaated another golden chance but saw visiting keeper Jean Manata produce a fine save down to his left and keep the scoreline as it was.

However ten minutes before half time Hamlets should really have been level but they saw skipper Ade Oreniake somehow miss a virtual open net at the back post after a ball across the box wasn’t dealt with. It was an unbelievable miss and kind of typified the visitors match so far, and because of this they trailed at the half.

Half Time Sporting Bengal United 1 Tower Hamlets 0

The opening quarter of the second half produced virtually nothing in the way of goal mouth action, that was until Hamlets went so close again after O’Neal Rowe’s brilliant long range effort was wonderfully tipped over by Lewis Lockyer in the Bengal Goal.

You kind of felt it would be one of those days for the visitors yet again in front of goal but in the 64th minute they finally found a way through when Jhonatas Silas da Silva (what a name by the way!!!) struck home from way out taking Lockyer by surprise in the hosts net. It was a well deserved leveller though after the amount of attacking the away side had manufactured in this game.

Hamlets now had their tails up and soon after Yusuf Ali nearly got in in goal but saw the bounce of the ball favour keeper and defender and they between them managed to thwart the attacker. Rowe then got in down the left for Hamlets but saw Lockyer save as another chance went begging for the visitors.

Bengal didn’t really create to much in the second half but with seven minutes to go looked to have snatched the lead once again when slotting home a through ball, but the flag had gone up for offside although it did look like a tight call however it remained 1-1.

So could anyone be a hero and win this derby, well the answer to that question was yes as in the 92nd minute Rowe got clear of the Sporting back line and duly lofted over the advancing Lockyer and see the ball nestle in the far corner of the net and score a late winner for the visiting side, which you would have to say was deserved over the ninety minutes.

It means Sporting have now lost both their league games so far whilst Hamlets record their second league win of the season. Hamlets should take heart from this performance going forward whilst for the hosts they will need to play a hell of a lot better against Kings Langley at the weekend if they are to push the Southern League Premier side close. No doubt they will though.

Full Time Sporting Bengal United 1 Tower Hamlets 2

Sawbridgeworth Town 2 Takeley 3

Essex Senior League, Tuesday 30th August 2016

Tuesday night action this week came from Crofters in Sawbridgeworth as the hosts Sawbridgeworth Town took on local rivals Takeley in what is normally a fiercly competitive local derby.

The teams had already met in the league at Station Road this season and that ended in a 1-1 draw although the teams have had differing fortunes this season so far, Sawbo are yet to record a win whilst Takeley have won four of their six league games and remain unbeaten.

Despite this though a tight and competitive battle was expected although the hosts were caught cold immediately from kick off as a ball through saw Charlie Cole use his pace to get beyond the defence and smack an effort beyond Matt Pointer and see the visitors ahead after barely ten seconds of play.

It certainly was a flying start from the away side and four minutes later they incredibly doubled their lead and it’s a goal keeper Pointer will want to forget as a lofted ball forward towards the edge of the box saw the keeper come to claim the ball but the ball bounced high off the rock hard surface and sailed over his head, landing straight to the feet of Cole who duly accepted the gift to finish from the angle into the corner.

It had been a disastrous start for the hosts but to their credit they managed to regroup and mount a swift fightback and on twelve minutes grabbed a goal back when an effort from Reece Cosson from the edge of the box was hit into the ground towards goal and it bounced up into the six yard box where George Tubey managed to head home and reduce the arrears.

And six minutes later this crazy start to this contest continued when the hosts found an equaliser as a ball swung into the box saw Gavin Cockman rise to power home a header beyond visiting keeper Josh Knigh and wipe out Takeley’s early advantage. What a start!!!

The pace of the contest continued at a frenetic pace and Sawbo keeper Pointer was having a shaky start to this one, having been rescued twice by his defence, once either side of the hosts leveller. He was then rescued by his post moments later when Takeley full back Sean Sammoogan thumped a close range effort against the woodwork after Cole’s initial header had been blocked, and all this action had come inside the first half hour.

The visitors had created the majority of the chances but it was Sawbo who so nearly went in front two mins before the half time break as a ball across the box found it’s way to Cockman who somehow sliced wide of the target with the goal at his mercy and just the keeper to beat. However this breathless half of football ended all square and no doubt both sides could of done with the fifteen minute break!!

Half Time Sawbridgeworth Town 2 Takeley 2

The second half carried on pretty much the first half had ended tempo wise, frenetic, and ten minutes into the half Takeley managed to get their noses back in front again and it was a great goal too asReece Barrett bamboozled a defender with some brilliant skill on the edge of the box before finishing past Pointer to give the Station Road side a slender advantage.

Takeley were now aiming to add a fourth and restore the two goal lead they had early on in the contest and on the hour mark saw hosts keeper Pointer make a good save from George Powell‘s flick as the game continued at its 100 miles an hour theme.

As the game entered its final twenty minutes the hosts began to put some pressure on the Takeley defence as they searched for leveller but they found the visiting defence a solid nut to crack, however with ten minutes to go they almost breached it when a great floating ball over the top of the Takeley defence from Cosson saw Cockman run onto the ball but keeper Knigh came to save the effort.

The visitors were now a threat on the counter attack and Cole almost got in down the other end moments later but the bounce was too high for the striker and and Pointer managed to claim the ball on this occasion. It must be noted that the host keeper’s performance improved as the game went on after the shaky start he had endured.

As the game entered it’s final few minutes the hosts really tried to put pressure on the visitors back line but the away side stood firm and almost sealed the deal four minutes into stoppage time when another ex-Sawbo attacker, Mitchell Das, got in on goal but after rounding Pointer he blasted way over from an acute angle.

Would it prove costly? Well no as a couple of minutes later the referee brought this thrilling contest to a conclusion and Takeley had returned to the top of the league and opened up a two point cushion as well. For the hosts it’s three defeats on the spin and still no wins in the league so far. However judging on this performance the first one cannot be too far away.

Full Time Sawbridgeworth Town 2 Takeley 3

Wadham Lodge 0 Redbridge 0

Essex Senior League, Saturday 27th August 2016

So I was back at Kitchener Road in Walthamstow for the second time in four days as I came to see Wadham Lodge take on Redbridge in a ESL battle.

Both teams have had difficult starts to the season after much rebuilding in the summer but both had recorded decent wins over Haringey & Waltham recently so would have taken heart from that no doubt.

With both sides having very similar records so far this campaign it was always going to be a tight contest one felt. And sure enough the opening ten minutes yielded very little in the way ofgoal mouth action as both sides looked to feel their way into the contest.

Once past the quarter hour mark though Lodge began to take the reins and on 18 minutes so nearly grabbed the lead when a free kick swung into the box saw skipper Elliot Scott flick an effort towards goal which came off the bar and bounce down just before the line before it was cleared.

The hosts continued to have the openings that came along although they were unable to really test keeper Jack Mernach in the visitors goal.

Redbridge had rarely threatened going forward until seven minutes before the break when a cross into the dangerzone saw Lee Weemes divert an effort inches over when he probably should of scored. It was a warning to the hosts however.

But with no further goal mouth action to speak of the half ended goal less with Wadham Lodge the happier of the two sides thus far you would of thought.

Half Time Wadham Lodge 0 Redbridge 0

The visitors came out after the break with much more purpose about them and pushed their opponents back, creating a couple of openings inside the first ten minutes of the half.

Lodge had effectively resorted to counter attacking football and one such break saw Usama Hamdan almost get in but keeper Mernach came to smother the effort before it could beat him.

However it was the Motormen who were doing most of the pressing in this half and midway through it skipper Adam Hunt saw a twenty yard volley go inches wide as they continued to have the better of the game since the half time break.

Wadham created a rare second half opening with around fifteen minutes to go when sub Russell Downes stung the palms of keeper Mernach and they went even closer inside the last ten minutes when Henri Okosi saw an effort cleared off the line by the visitors.

However despite the visitors creating several openings they hardly tested host keeper Jasdeep Singh Bhoarua, largely down to the two centre halves in the hosts defence producing wonderful blocks when required.

And so in a match where both teams had failed to keep a clean sheet all season it ended in a goalless draw. It’s one positive both sides can take from a game that wasn’t great but was also not the worst I’ve seen. Ok but not great is probably how this one will be remembered.

Full Time Wadham Lodge 0 Redbridge 0

Waltham Forest 1 Sawbridgeworth Town 0

Essex Senior League, Wednesday 24th August 2016

So Wednesday night saw me over at Kitchener Road, Walthamstow, for a match betweenWaltham Forest and Sawbridgeworth Town in the Essex Senior League.

Hosts Forest had started the season with three straight wins, scoring eleven goals in the process, whilst Sawbridgeworth Town were unbeaten having drawn their opening two games so this proved to be a tight and potentially exciting encounter.

Forest made their attacking intentions clear from the off when Moses stung the palms of Sawbokeeper Ponter with a fierce shot from outside the box whilst Sawbo fizzed one over the top, although it was given offside, as the start of the match was a fairly even affair.

Forest then went close again as Moses danced his way through three or four tackles to bear down on goal but Ponter again saved, this time with his legs, to thwart the hosts giant striker before Davidsonfollowed up and could only send his effort way over the crossbar.

As the game passed the quarter hour mark the hosts were beginning to crank up the pressure on the visitors defence but the Sawbo back line were able to deal with what was thrown at them thus far. Balls into the visitors box were causing some issues though and one such moment saw the loose ball come out to Mohammed whose effort was well wide of the target though but Forest were definitely looking more of an attacking threat.

Davidson whipped another dangerous ball in minutes later which almost found a team mate but saw keeper Ponter just get to the ball first was his fist to clear the danger. So although the half saw the hosts look the livelier going forward, Sawbo seemed fairly comfortable in the game as the half ended goal less.

Half Time Waltham Forest 0 Sawbridgeworth Town 0

The second half saw the visitors immediately look much more of a threat up front and they started the half on the front foot, seeing a long throw cause some issues and then one of the resulting corners go right across the face of goal.

Forest continued to look spritely up front and just before the hour saw another Davidson cross cause a scramble inside the box until the flag went up for offside and then moments later the hosts headed wide well when placed.

However on 63 minutes Sawbo created arguably their best chance of the game as a defence lapse presented the ball to Fortune about six yards out but his point blank range effort saw saved by Seetah’s legs and the chance was gone. It was a golden chance and tippified the visitors much improved attacking prowess in the second period.

The next moments of action saw the hosts scream for a penalty although in my view it was never a penalty in a million years and then see the visitors go up the other end and poke an opening well wide of the target as both teams looked to try and gain the advantage.

As the game entered it’s final twenty minutes or so Forest began to crank up the pressure although they were finding the visitors a tough nut to crack. One of the Forest coaching staff was sent from the dugout as the hosts began to look frustrated at not being able to get a breakthrough and the hosts saw Maxwell almost get in on goal but his control was poor and the chance went away.

Their was a flash of lightning behind the goal after this which looked menacing and angry and the hosts were to feel aggrieved and angry with ten minutes or so remaining when a Davdison corner swung into the near post saw keeper Ponter just about keep the ball out but on a second look it appears the ball did actually cross the line, hence the strong and fierce claims of a goal from the hosts, which fell on deaf ears.

However instead of letting this moment affect them, the hosts scored with their next attack as after some pressure from the visitors on the hosts backline, Forest broke down the other end and saw Moses play Rheo Jospeths in on goal and the hosts player slid a decent finish beyond Ponter and in off the post for the breakthrough with seven minutes to go.

Sawbo committed a few more men into attacking positions thereafter in an attempt to find a leveller and Forest almost sealed the deal but saw Davidson slice wide before Corriera saw an effort saved by Sawbo keeper Ponter. Fortune then was inches away from connecting with a far post cross up the other end before Cosson saw an effort deflected inches over the hosts bar as they looked to snatch a point.

They were unable to though and Forest took the points in a very hard fought win over the visitors. The hosts therefore made it four wins from four and are still the only side with a 100% record in the league this season as they move into third. For Sawbo this was their first loss of the campaign but they showed more then enough in this one to suggest they can be more than competitive this season.

Full Time Waltham Forest 1 Sawbridgeworth Town 0