Essex Senior League: Tower Hamlets 1 Southend Manor 2
Southend Manor came from behind to beat Tower Hamlets with two goals in two minutes by Rhys Fatt.
Anthony Ikenwe gave the home side the lead in a commanding first-half performance, as they dominated possession and created multiple chances.
But Fatt hit back with two goals in quick succession around the midway mark of the second half to earn the visitors the points.
The home side were quick to assert their authority on the game, commanding possession early on, and they broke the deadlock after 17 minutes when Ikenwe received a Harry McLean pass on the left hand side and drilled a fierce shot into the bottom right hand corner.
McLean came close to doubling the home side’s lead when putting a header over the bar from a Randell Williams cross.
And the Tower Hamlets captain went agonisingly close again as Ikenwe delicately dribbled past two Southend defenders to set up a shot that was saved by Rees Hawkins.
The second half saw Tower Hamlets continue where they left off, with Ikenwe quick to pounce on a defensive error and cut the ball back to McLean whose shot unfortunately hit the post.
The home side squandered another opportunity to extend their lead as Habideen Kosoko found himself one on one with Hawkins who pulled off a reflex save, with the rebound falling back into Kosoko’s path only for Hawkins to save again.
Soon after, the visitors drew level on 65 minutes through Fatt after Issac Aubynn flicked a long ball onto Ed Johns and he cut the ball across the box to leave Fatt with an empty net to equalise.
And Fatt scored his second of the game to give Manor the lead, as Aubynn laid the ball back to him on the edge of the box and he fired into the bottom right hand corner.
Tower Hamlets’ manager Ade Abayomi made his final substitution after seeing his side concede the second goal and they had a chance to even the scores after Kosoko played a lobbed pass into the path of Williams, whose shot was saved by Hawkins.
But the home side went down to 10 men when Tyler Springer was unable to continue due to an earlier head injury, having used their three substitutions, and this hampered their chances of getting back into the game.
Hamlets did little to pressurise the Manor defence in the time that remained, but considering the chances they created in the first half they will feel disappointed not to have earned at least a point.
Tower Hamlets: Stinca, Prezmecky-White, Cedras, Abayomi (Cheikh-Sadibou 60), Springer, Ndao, Ikenwe (Earle 67), McLean (Ali 60), Lukondo, Kosoko, Williams. Unused subs: Garcia, Adama Bamba.
Waltham Forest 0 Sporting Bengal 1
In-form Sporting Bengal recorded their fourth successive win and fourth clean sheet in a row in league and cup action at Wadham Lodge.
Hit by the news in midweek that captain Shahed Ahmed had been ruled out for the season with torn knee ligaments, Anwar Uddin’s side claimed all three points thanks to Yacine Teladjati’s superb 39th-minute effort.
Uddin tweeted: “Delighted with the @SportingBengal result today, 3pts away from home and our 4th clean sheet in a row, impressive any any level, well done.”
Sporting host unbeaten leaders Bowers at Mile End Stadium on Wednesday.
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