Former Dagenham & Redbridge captain hails display of players after they beat FA Vase semi-finalists this week

East London Advertiser: Sporting Bengal United (blue) try to defend a long throw into the penalty area from Bowers & Pitsea (pic: Steve Alison).Sporting Bengal United (blue) try to defend a long throw into the penalty area from Bowers & Pitsea (pic: Steve Alison). (Image: Archant)

Sporting Bengal United boss Anwar Uddin praised the performance of his players after beating Bowers & Pitsea in the Essex Senior League on Monday.

The east Londoners delivered a disciplined display at the Len Salmon Stadium to prevent the hosts from scoring and Abdisamad Mohamed found the net four minutes from time to give them all three points.

Uddin said: “Bowers are a brilliant team and do not given you any room to breath. Usually sides crack against them and I think everyone was anticipating when we would as well.

“Especially given the fact that in recent matches we had made mistakes to lose 1-0, but we didn’t on Monday and it was a fantastic feeling.

“I think going to watch Leyton Orient and Dagenham & Redbridge on Saturday helped. I reckon some of the boys looked at that and thought I’m not that far away.

“A couple of our lads are young so it is not impossible for that to be achieved and the weekend showed they are not too far away from that level.”

What also helped Bengal on Monday was that Uddin was able to pick a strong team for the clash against the title challengers.

Bowers are expected to finish first and seal promotion to the Ryman North, but were left frustrated against the Mile End Stadium club.

And the former Dagenham & Redbridge captain believes it shows the ability of his squad ahead of next season, he added: “We had a strong side out and playing on a Monday night helped.

“We didn’t have too much traffic and arrived well on time, but the players were just fantastic and showed what they are about and how good they can be.

“When we have our best team out we are a match for everybody, but we don’t have any money so how can we ask people to take a day off work on a Tuesday so they can play for us in the evening?

“I think if you asked people to pick which was the side that reached the semi-finals of the FA Vase and is going for the title on Monday, I believe they would have been unsure.”