Non-League and Academy football writer

In an important semi-final tie of this season’s Fenton Cup, Sporting Bengal United Reserves, of step 8 of the Essex Alliance Football League, faced step 7 Senior Division side Chadwell Heath Spartans, at Fords Sports & Social, on Saturday afternoon. Sporting Bengal United Reserves are currently in the Premier Division (West), in third place after 12 matches played, and they are a side who are enjoying an outstanding debut season in the Essex Alliance Football League. Chadwell Heath Spartans are currently in seventh place in the Senior Division standings, after 22 matches played. This promised to be a really interesting cup game, and it was the step 7 side, Chadwell Heath Spartans, who progressed to the final of this season’s Fenton Cup, with a 3-1 win on Saturday afternoon. 

The game got off to a brilliant start for the Spartans, who would take the lead in the opening minutes of the game. With player-manager Aaron Hunwicks’ lofted ball (from the left-hand side of the pitch) into the Sporting Bengal penalty area eventually falling for Billy Gipp, in the centre of the box. Under a bit of pressure, his resulting powerful effort would go low into the goal, 0-1. Anamul Haque’s Sporting Bengal United Reserves side tried to respond to going 1-0 down so early on in this match. After Umar Abudllah’s effort from 25 yards out on the Spartans’ goal was held and gathered by their goalkeeper, Dino Maras, a good Sporting Bengal move would follow. As after Khedir Elias had delivered a low cross into the Spartans’ box, to Mehrojidin Muzafarov, the Sporting Bengal player would, under pressure, skilfully turn with the ball, before seeing his resulting low effort on goal be gathered by Dino Maras.

Shortly after Ryan O’Connell had hit an effort from the edge of the Sporting Bengal penalty area, which had gone narrowly over their goal, the away side would double their lead. Peter Adeleye had done well to just hold the ball up on the edge of the home team’s penalty area, before passing the ball across to Billy Gipp, whose powerful and well hit effort would find the right-hand side of the goal, 0-2. Sporting Bengal hadn’t quite been able to settle, during the first half, and a couple of minutes after Sporting’s centre-forward Emmanuel Olasehinde had won the ball off of a Spartans defender, and then traveled forward to the edge of their penalty area before seeing his low effort on goal gathered by the goalkeeper, the Spartans would extend their lead. As following a pass back from a defender, Peter Adeleye would get to the ball down the left-hand side of the Sporting Bengal penalty area, before curling a fantastic effort past the goalkeeper, Alfie Murray, and into the top right-hand corner of the goal, 0-3. Just before the referee had sounded his whistle for half-time, Sporting player Abid Haque would hit an effort from 20 yards out, over the Spartans’ goal.

The home side improved for the beginning of the second half. First half substitute, Tanvir Ahmed, was trying to get on the ball and make things happen in the midfield, and the team had further upped their intensity. After a fairly uneventful start to the second half, Sporting Bengal were seeing more of the ball and also looking to test the away team’s goalkeeper more. Shortly after Hamza Shire’s effort from the edge of the Spartans penalty area, was gathered by Dino Maras, Sporting Bengal would get a goal back in the game. The home side’s first goal of the afternoon, was scored by Umar Abdullah, who would get to the ball on the edge of the Spartans’ box, following a clearance from a cross. And his well taken and powerful effort would find the bottom left-hand corner of the goal. The home side continued to push and press the Spartans, who were however, continuing to keep a very good defensive shape.

There were not many chances during the latter stages of the second half, but late on Chadwell Heath Spartans substitute Jaiden Buntin would get to the ball down the right-hand side of the Sporting Bengal penalty area, before hitting a powerful effort wide of Alfie Murray’s near post. Despite a spirited second half performance from the youthful Sporting Bengal United Reserves, step 7 side Chadwell Heath Spartans defended their penalty area really well, with their two central-defenders, Aaron Hunwicks and James Hanly, doing a great job on the day. Sporting Bengal United Reserves were much improved during the second half of this match, and although they will be bitterly disappointed with the outcome of the game, they can take pride in that. This was however, a massive day for the Spartans, as this real family club’s first team booked their place in their first ever final. Congratulations to them on the win today, and on booking their place in the final of this season’s Fenton Cup final.

I thought that the vocal Duwane Thomas was Sporting Bengal’s player of the match today, for what was a good defensive performance, particularly during the. second half. However, for my overall player of the match, and despite real competition from Aaron Hunwicks, James Hanly, and of course Billy Gipp, my player of the match award goes to Peter Adeleye, who led the line really well for the Spartans, more than playing his part in the win (he took his goal really well, at an important time in the game).