Kieran Baldwin reports on a first win of the season for UEL 1st’s men’s football
The University of East London Men’s 1st’s gained a hard fought but deserved 1-0 win against University of Brighton 1st’s to bounce back from their opening defeat last week.
Michael Ogboin scored the all-important first half goal, to secure the three points for the home side.
On a wet and cold afternoon at Hackney Marshes, both sides tried to play football in the right manner but both found it difficult to create any clear openings in front of goal.
UEL were persistent down the right hand side in the early stages though crossing opportunities were restricted to a minimum.
Brighton had the first clear opportunity after 27 minutes, when a one-two was played on the edge of the UEL box, forcing Ritchie Robins into making a good save as he sprinted off his line.
Breakthrough
UEL’s first real shot on goal came moments later, as Brian Bontamba saw his shot go just over from a corner.
UEL found the breakthrough on the brink of half time, as a good move released Liam MacDevitt down the right flank and his cross came to Ogboin on the edge of the box. He took one touch to control and then smashed it into the back of the net.
The second half was a more open contest as UEL pushed for a second whilst wary of being caught at the back. UEL continued to create chances but were unable to really test the Brighton keeper.
Johan Caney-Bryan had a great opportunity; after a clever ball over the top of the Brighton defence picked him out, only for the onrushing keeper to make a good save.
Caney-Bryan was then unable to get on the end of an Ogboin cross-come-shot across goal, as UEL were left frustrated.
Dangerous
UEL then had a goal disallowed in the latter stages, as Caney-Bryan finished off from inside the box. The offside was debatable, but the referee dismissed the appeals.
Just as UEL appeared to have wrapped up the three points Brighton had one final burst forward and were unfortunate to not take home a point. A dangerous ball across goal from the right, left Brighton’s striker with only a tap in but he failed to convert.