Sporting Bengal United 0-5 Erith & Belvedere - New management team celebrate first win

Erith & Belvedere’s new managerial team of Paul Gorman and Chris Cosgrove claimed their opening league win at the helm of the Park View Road based outfit, as the Deres saw off a lacklustre Sporting Bengal United side, writes Thomas Hawes.

The pair, who were within minutes of securing a league cup win over Deal in their first game in charge, didn’t need to show much tactical knowhow as the all too familiar sight of a Sporting Bengal collapse occured as the Deres romped to victory.

Nevertheless, the importance of scoring the first goal against the east Londoners cannot be underestimated.

There is no doubt that they have potential to be a lot better than their league position would suggest, but the inconsistency, the ability to concentrate for the whole 90 minutes and not fold so easily is something that Bengal will have to work on in future years if they are to ever progress above the lower reaches of the Kent League.

Fortunately for the away side, they did get the first goal.

Matt Bedford leapfrogged a dodgy sliding tackle before charging to the by-line and picking out debutant and Kent League journeyman Glen McTaggart at the near post who tucked home to give the Deres the lead on the half hour.

Very rarely do Bengal come back from 2-0 down and it was therefore a relief for the travelling support, who made up the majority of a measly 35 attendance, when that goal came a dozen minutes after the first.

It was Bedford again who turned provider as he picked out Tom Maycock in acres of
space. Maycock kept his composure brilliantly and placed the ball in the top corner leaving Bengal shot-stopper Pape Diagne no chance of keeping the score at 1-0 at the interval.

Very rarely do Erith & Belvedere score and Steve White’s name isn’t on the scoresheet and the striker booked his place on the scoresheet with a turn of pace that even an 18 year old would be proud of as he zoomed past a Bengal defender to latch onto a through ball.

Like Maycock previously, White kept his cool one-on-one with Diagne and made it 3-0 with 40 minutes still left to play.

After 64 minutes, the scorer of Erith’s first goal, McTaggart, limped off injured and at first sight it appears as if the striker will be out of the midweek must-win League Cup encounter versus Faversham Town at Salters Lane.

Erith had to wait 20 minutes for their fourth to arrive as substitute Adrian Deane drilled past Diagne.

The former Republic of Ireland Under-21 man made it five after 77 minutes to complete the rout.

Sporting had chances to score themselves and there were some shaky moments at the back for Erith, which will have to be eradicated if the Deres are to progress in the Kent League Cup and FA Vase.

SPORTING BENGAL UNITED: Diagne, Shahid Ali (Goffar 45), Shahin, Salvador (Miah 45), Sadouk, Khadir, A Ali (Hakim 66), Itagaki, Rahman, Sadique Ali, Uddin.
Subs: Uzzaman, Manning.

ERITH & BELVEDERE: Murray, Scowen, Durrant, Morgan (Deane 53), Mansfield, Maycock, Bedford, Johnson (Walker 80), McTaggart (Walsh 65), White, Nougher
Subs: Bignall, Berkley

Attendance: 35