Essex Senior League: Hullbridge Sports 4 Sporting Bengal United 3

Sporting Bengal United have had their 12 game unbeaten run brought to a halt as they fell to a narrow 4-3 defeat to Essex Senior League leaders Hullbridge Sports.

A hat-trick from Nathan Scarborough and another from Emmanuel Okunja sealed the three points for the Sports despite a fight back from Bengal with goals from Kamarl Duncan, Jay Knight and Steven Carvell at Lower Road.

Scarborough opened the scoring for the hosts as he headed home a cross in the 7th minute of play and Okunja then doubled his side’s lead in the 36th minute as he tucked the ball home.

Sports took a 2-0 lead into the half-time break but Bengal had other plans after the re-start as Carvell whipped a corner in and picked out Duncan who headed into the back of the net to reduce the score line.

Bengal levelled the score shortly after as Knight tucked the ball into the net after a reverse pass from Zatashi Ali.

Carvell then drilled the ball into the net to give his side a 3-2 lead.

in the 72nd minute Scarborough nabbed his second of the match to make it 3-3 after a bad run for the Sports in the second-half.

Scarborough then dealt Bengal a further blow as he found the net for his hat-trick seven minutes later to seal the win for his side.

Manager Imrul Gazi tweeted after the match: “Gutted to get nothing from the game today, 12 game unbeaten run comes to an end but not without a fight.

“We’ve come away to the league leaders and had a proper go, so I will take the positives.

“Well done to Hullbridge and Darren Manning - a very good side you’ve got there.”