Sporting Bengal beaten at Hullbridge and face Clapton this weekend

Tower Hamlets’ struggles in the Essex Senior League continued this week and they are currently in the middle of a hectic period.

Ade Abayomi’s youngsters put up a brave fight at home to league leaders FC Romania on Saturday, but lost.

Liviu Florin Pop scored twice inside the opening five minutes at Mile End, before Edison Teberen pulled one back for the hosts.

Sergiu Pitaru restored the visitor’s two-goal advantage and it remained that way until half time.

Pop ensured the result was never in doubt by competing his hat-trick a minute after the restart as it ended 4-1.

A goal from King Amieye earned Hamlets a point at home to Burnham Ramblers on Monday and they visited Greenhouse Sports last night (Wednesday).

It was the first match the north Londoners had played at their Coles Park stadium since November 4 due to the poor weather.

Ephraim Oyemakinde put Sports ahead before the visitors task was made even harder when Olawale Ogunoile was sent off before half time.

Issouf Traore levelled for Abayomi’s men in the 57th minute, though, but a penaly late on from Alfred Gbanle gave the home team a 2-1 win.

Hamlets travel to Newham on Saturday desperately looking to bounce back from their disappointment of the past week.

Sporting Bengal United will be keen to earn bragging rights once again on Saturday when they host to local rivals Clapton at the Mile End Stadium.

They defeated local rivals Tower Hamlets 3-1 two weeks ago and saw off Newham 2-0 last month, but their recent progress was checked on Tuesday as they lost 2-0 at Hullbridge.

Anwar Uddin’s men had to make the difficult midweek journey to Lower Road and were under the cosh early on during the match.

It wasn’t until the 37th minute, though, when Sports opened the scoring through Luke Hornsley and it remained 1-0 at the break.

Even though Bengal began the second period brightly, they were unable to find a way through the home defence and conceded again in the 88th minute.

Uddin’s men remain 12th in the table, while the Tons are in eighth place. The two teams played out a 1-1 draw back at the Old Spotted Dog in December, but Bengal want a win this time.