2024-25 Sporting Bengal Vs Maldon & Tiptree
📢 MATCH REPORT:
BANK HOLIDAY DRAMA AT THE MES
Sporting Bengal 2-1 Maldon & Tiptree
Isthmian League North Division
Mile End Stadium | Monday 26 August 2024
Heading into the third league game of the season, Sporting Bengal were up against sixth place Maldon & Tiptree, a team that has formed a close relationship with League Two side Colchester Utd. It was always going to be a difficult game on paper and it proved to be exactly that.
However, Bengal took a shock lead in the first few minutes when a Steven Carvell corner could only be flicked backwards by the defender and at the back post, Yasin Zougui was quickest to react with a diving header to give Bengal a 1-0 lead.
Maldon & Tiptree dominated possession and created chances through set-pieces. Bengal defended well in numbers and soon after could’ve doubled the lead but Mustafa Hussein couldn’t quite get his shot right when he was one on one. Bengal were punished moments later when an in swinging corner from Anthony Wordsworth caused panic in the box and after a couple deflections, the ball was in the back of the net just before half time. 1-1.
Maldon & Tiptree, in the ascendancy, continued to go for the winner but Bengal resisted and great defending and keeping kept the game level. In to the last 15 minutes, Keanu Hill pounced on a loose ball and drove towards the opposition half and found striker Joe with a driven ball. Joe Gregory spotted the run of midfielder Brandy Makuendi and played a brilliant through ball in his path. Brandy took his first touch on the turn, swivelled and fired in a low hard shot into the bottom right corner as Mile End Stadium erupted! 2-1 Bengal.
Despite the away team’s onslaught, Bengal stood firm for the three points and another major upset in the Isthmian League North. That’s now two wins out of two at the MES. Bengal are doing the utmost to make it the fortress it has been the last couple seasons. Bengal are now up to 7th in the league after 3 gameweeks. Next up – a tough trip against one of the league favourites in Bury Town.
