Essex Senior League
Saturday 24th March 2018 3pm KO
Attendance: 45
2017/18 Season – Match 58
Hullbridge: Blue & White Striped Shirts, Blue Shorts, Blue Socks
Sporting Bengal: Orange Shirts, Black Shorts, Black Socks
Scott W Reporting (Twitter: @ScottMHC14)
On a breezy day at Lower Road, Hullbridge welcomed Sporting Bengal in what was a crunch encounter for the hosts. Team-wise, Sports lost Rob Hodgson this week to Barkingside while Michael Salako and Eamon Payne were unavailable so Luke Hornsley and Adebola Sotoyinbo lined up in attack with captain Jimmy Cox in a support role. As for Sporting, they were missing Steven Carvell, Eaia Embalo & Josh Adjei though looked to grab their third win of the week.
In the early stages of this encounter, the visitors looked to get their passing game going as midfielder Declan Nche blasted an effort wide four minutes in. The hosts’ front two of Adebola Sotoyinbo and Luke Hornsley were causing problems thanks to their respective pace and strength. Sotoyinbo broke the deadlock on 13 minutes as a good ball in from the left by Matt Rose came into his path and he beat visiting ‘stopper Hossam Hassan from close range. Hassan was kept quite busy in the next portion of the match, as a Jimmy Cox free-kick was gratefully gathered.
Unfortunately for the visitors, Hassan’s poor goal kick went straight to Hornsley who ran towards goal and compounded the ‘keeper’s woes by slotting home well to double Hullbridge’s lead seven minutes before the break.
It got better for Darren Manning’s side just before the break as Cox headed in at the back post to give the hosts a healthy cushion at half-time.
Half-Time: Hullbridge 3 – 0 Sporting Bengal
Hullbridge continued to push for more goals after the break as first midfielder Joe Pattison prodded wide three minutes after the re-start before minutes later, Hornsley got his brace by heading in a super deep cross from full-back Matt Dicks at the back post.
In fairness, Sporting were poor defensively for the majority of this match though going forward they were decent in possession without really creating too many guilt-edged chances. Attacking midfielder Ashaan Siddik shone though for Sporting with his pace and trickery as Hullbridge tired somewhat in the last half-hour. Efforts from winger Codey Cameron, Nche and Anthony Murray-Bruce couldn’t beat home goalkeeper Jamie Merralls as the home defence, led by centre-backs Daniel Okah and club stalwart Sam Taylor stuck to their task well.
Full-Time: Hullbridge 4 – 0 Sporting Bengal
Hullbridge won this one well and also recorded their first clean sheet since Manning took charge. Also, Hullbridge have climbed out of the bottom four with this result – the thing now is to stay there.
You can hear my post-match interviews with Hullbridge boss Darren Manning and Sporting Bengal manager Imrul Gazi on this Thursday’s episode of the Grassroots Football Show with Adam and guest co-host Damian ‘Damo’ Clark on East London Radio.
Teams
Hullbridge Sports
Jamie Merralls (GK), Matt Dicks (Charlie Buffin 69′), Matt Rose, Sam Taylor, Daniel Okah, Conor Mead, Joe Pattison, Matt Tapley, Luke Hornsley, Jimmy Cox (Capt) (Nathan Burrell 77′), Adebola Sotoyinbo (Luca Frankis 66′)
Goal-scorers: Sotoyinbo [13′], Luke Hornsley [38′, 52′], Jimmy Cox [45′]
Booked: Pattison | Subs Not Used: Ramsey (GK), Poole
Sporting Bengal Utd
Hossam Hassan (GK), Shafiul Choudhary, Teo Borozan, Declan Nche, Freddy Tandon (Capt), Anthony Murray-Bruce, Codey Cameron (Nazmul Ahmed 69′), Alpha Jah (Tanvir Ahmed 46′), Kevin Igweai, Ashaan Siddik, David Vaughan
Booked: Siddik | Subs Not Used: Ackie, Gazi
Referee: Paul Humphries
Assistant Referees: Ray Parmenter and Trevor Williams
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