Laird Late Goal Sinks Bengal Hearts

David Laird scored a hat-trick as his stoppage time winner gave Barkingside a 2-3 victory away to Sporting Bengal United as Joshua Brown reports from the Mile End Stadium...

Sides shake hands before kick off

Barkingside moved up to 9th in the Essex Senior League following a 2-3 victory over Sporting Bengal United. With the scores even at half time ‘The Side’ did well to keep out an improved second-half Sporting performance, with David Laird grabbing his hat trick and the winner deep into stoppage time.

Having had the the return fixture postponed on Wednesday both teams came in to Saturday’s match itching to face their East London compatriots, although neither side took control in the opening stages.

It wasn’t until the 14th minute when the first real chance saw the away side take the lead through David Laird. Michael Ademiluyi played a good one two before his cross found Laird with time and space to control and fire Barkingside into the lead from inside the penalty area.

The goal brought the game to life as the home side were level just two minutes later. FromĀ a deep corner David Vaughan found himself on the end of a knock down to swivel and shoot to equalise for Sporting Bengal (see video below). A number of Barkingside defensive errors were visible before the corner had even been taken.

https://youtu.be/WOZyly-h3cA

The two goals saw the game turn into an end to end battle with the route one option being deployed mostly by both teams.

Neither side created any clear cut chances, relying heavily on defensive mistakes, that eventually allowed Barkingside to retake the lead. As everyone lined up for a free-kick expecting a cross, David laird received the ball down the outside of the opposing wall, unmarked, in space to easily fire his side back in the lead.

With both teams preferring the long ball over the top tactic, it started to play in to ‘The Sides’ favour as the big Laird and Luke With partnership up front started to cause trouble for the home sides defence.

Good link up play between the two saw With clear through on goal with just the keeper to beat on the half hour mark, before firing wide – fortunately the lineman’s flag was raised to spare too much embarrassment.

But the pressure without an end product came back to bite Barkingside as Sporting Bengal started regain momentumĀ and should have been level through David Vaughan. The Striker received a flick on, on his chest but his volley could only go high and wide as he was running away from goal.

The equaliser came seven minutes before the break, again from a smart free-kick. When everyone was again expecting a cross, the near bottom corner was the target as the whipped shot struck the post. With everyone scrambling to get the rebound, Raul De Silva was there to turn in to level the sides.

Missed Opportunities

Sporting started the second half as they ended the first and should have been ahead just two minutes in. David Vaughan received the ball under little pressure inside the box but his left footed effort was wide of the mark. A chance sporting Bengal fans felt they would regret.

Barkingside struggled to get control of the ball for most of the second half and it was Vaughan again with a good chance on the hour mark.

Vaughan received the ball from a cross with his back to goal, after a chest control, his swiveled bicycle effort struck the cross bar and went for a goal kick .

A chance that would have been up there with the likes of Andy Carroll for east London’s best bicycle kick.

Jason Fontaine had Barkingside’s best chance just moments later as he was played clean through on goal although his finish was straight at the keeper.

As Sporting Bengal kept knocking on the Barkingside door without an answer, heartbreak came five minutes in to injury time.

Heartbreak

After a Barkingside counter attack had broken down, sporting bengal tried to pass their was out of defence and were punished for the lack of experience.

Following an interception, David Laird received the ball on the edge of the box to curl a sweet shot in to the bottom corner to the sound of both cheers and groans.

Tempers were visible as the game restarted but there was no time for another attack from the home side.

Next up for Barkingside is an away London Senior Cup tie against Dulwich Hamlet on Tuesday whilst Sporting Bengal host Eton Manor in the league on Wednesday.

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