The latest from our two Mile End Stadium clubs and who they will face this weekend

Sporting Bengal United pocketed £2,250 prize money on Saturday, but only after surviving a scare at home to Ilford in the extra preliminary round of the FA Cup.

The two Essex Senior League foes produced a seven-goal thriller at the Mile End Stadium and Imrul Gazi’s team eventually triumphed by a scoreline of 4-3.

Bengal’s manager was actually absent, so Ayas Ali led the side on the touchline and did a fine job to help them progress.

Gazi said: “I was having kittens over here in America. We made hard work of it in the end, but it sounds like a cracking game.

“Well done to my Sporting Bengal lads on a great win. I’m off to the beach now.”

Ilford took a surprise lead when the talented Yemi Adelani scored after only 25 minutes, but David Vaughan equalised less than 60 seconds later.

Bengal built on their leveller and went ahead when 17-year-old Zakariya Haque poked home after a Steve Carvell free kick.

It was 3-1 in the 36th minute as Carvell was involved again and Haque was on hand to tap in to an empty net at the back post.

The hosts managed to hold onto their two-goal lead until the break and extended it further thanks to Bobby Redwood with 55 played.

Ilford fought back towards the end of the match, however, and Adelani set up a tense finish with a goal three minutes from time.

He completed his hat-trick in stoppage time too, but it proved to be scant consolation for the Foxes as Bengal held on for a 4-3 victory.

Gazi’s men will face Brentwood Town, of the Bostik North, in the next round, the preliminary stage, on August 25 at the Arena.

Next up for Bengal is a trip to Essex Senior League new boys Saffron Walden Town on Saturday where they will look to build on this first win of the season.

It was a different story for local rivals Tower Hamlets in the FA Cup last weekend after they saw their clash at Stanway Rovers abandoned in the 80th minute.

AJ Ashanike’s men were losing 3-1 to their fellow league side after missing a penalty at a key stage of the tie and look set to exit the competition once the outcome of the game has been decided by the Football Association.

Hamlets will look to respond in a positive fashion on Saturday at home to Redbridge before they visit Sawbridgeworth Town next Wednesday (August 22) to play in the first round of the Errington Challenge Cup.