Sporting Bengal have scored five goals in each of their last two fixtures, but they still managed to suffer an 8-5 defeat to Basildon, and manager Mamun Chowdhury says he was left deflated.

Despite reaching the League Cup fourth round with a 5-2 win at home to Ilford last week, the Basildon trip that followed on Saturday could not have been anymore different for the Bengal defenders.

It was a poor showing but one Chowdhury feels his team could be susceptible to.

“I was very disappointed,” he said. “Against Ilford we showed confidence but perhaps due to a number of changes, brought about by injury and suspension, I have some sympathy with my players that went out there in their place.”

“It was far from our strongest line-up. Certainly our first-eleven defence didn’t figure. The first-choice centre-halves and goalkeeper were absent and that didn’t help matters. The keeper came in at the last minute and so I can’t fault him at all. He tried his best”

“To make things even worse our leading goalscorer Carlos Constanto was out injured so that put more pressure on us going the other way. Also two players were making their debuts.”

Chowdhury believes that training won’t involve more focus on defending as he does not expect to make as many changes for the upcoming fixture against Ilford.

“We made six changes in total when facing Basildon and that’s not something I expect will happen again this weekend. Hopefully one or two will be back”

“Things will improve once we get a more settled side again with players playing with those they’re more used to.”

Bengal currently lie in 14th place in the Essex Senior League on 16 points and Chowdhury admits he is unsatisfied with their current position.

He added: “I’m quite disappointed with our league position at the moment. Our season has been underwhelming but to be fair we usually don’t start performing till after Christmas.”

“The target is to double our points after the festive period to break our points record which we achieved last season. If we can do that then i’ll be happy.”

Clapton were 2-0 winners over Southend Manor as Tower Hamlets overcame Sawbridgeworth Town 2-1 in the Essex Senior League on Saturday. London ASPA scored in the last 10 minutes to secure a 2-2 draw away to Bowers & Pitsea but London Bari fell to a 2-0 defeat against Ilford.