Felixstowe & Walton United FC

SPORTING BENGAL  0 - 8  FELIXSTOWE & WALTON UNITED  

Seasiders smash Bengal for 8

Felixstowe & Walton United went on the rampage in East London to record their biggest victory in 50 years against relegation threatened Sporting Bengal. A hat-trick from Tom Warren and further goals from Tony Stevenson, Charlie Warren, Sam Ford, Callum Harrison and Cameron Forde-Brown secured a crucial three points after a winless three game run.

Toby Stevenson started in place of Hugh Cullum, Billy Holland came back in the starting eleven for Rob Harvey, whilst Willie Clemons returned from international duty on the bench, Stuart Ainsley the unlucky one to miss out as Stuart Boardley went for a strong attacking lineup.

Felixstowe started the game attacking the Mile End Road end of the ground, a stadium that has not changed since the Seasiders last visit in 2014, an FA cup tie against Tower Hamlets. The facilities were not up to standard for the 45 Felixstowe supporters in the 64 crowd, with an emergency trip to the nearest pub the first port of call when the coach arrived after a delayed three-hour journey. The conditions for the players were not great either, with a poor pitch that resembled concrete. To Felixstowe’s credit, they did not let that stop them playing their high-tempo passing game and they quickly took control of the match from kick-off and went ahead within two minutes. Josh Hitter launched a throw-in into the box, it was headed on and out to Toby Stevenson who swivelled and sent a glorious volley into the top left corner to give the keeper no chance. Josh Hitter whipped in a cross a few minutes later that Charlie Warren tagged on to, but his header flew an inch wide of the post. The home side had their only chance of the match at that point, winning a corner and creating space on the left side that saw a sharp shot blocked by Jack Ainsley on the edge of the six-yard box. Jordan Matthews looked to have made it two nil on 16 minutes, his close-range effort was well saved and the ball fell to Sam Ford who smacked his shot against the foot of the post and the out for a corner via a deflection back off the goalkeeper. From the corner, Sam Ford set up Josh Hitter on the far left and his curling cross was a beauty, allowing Tom Warren to leap and divert his header into the far corner of the net. Charlie Warren then danced his way into the area past three players to go clear in the box, only for Whymark in the goal to pull off a great save down low. A Sam Ford corner on 24 minutes was met by the head of Billy Holland and his glancing header went agonisingly wide as Felixstowe stepped up the pressure with wave after wave of attack that was thrilling the Seasiders followers and causing all sorts of problems for a Sporting Bengal side that simply could not cope with the passing football and pace of the away team. Just past the half-hour mark Tom Warren nearly turned provider, again producing a quality cross that Cameron Forde-Brown met but he had his head in his hands as his shot spun past the face of the goal. Billy Holland then had another golden opportunity 3 minutes later, being first to meet a corner from the right but sending his shot over the bar from four yards in front of a crowd of players. The crucial third goal came on 39 minutes, some fantastic build-up play saw the ball reach the edge of the box, take a deflection or two on the way through and found Tom Warren waiting to pounce beyond the defence, he gleefully accepted the ball and sent it past the keeper into the bottom corner for his second of the game. 2 minutes later and it was so nearly four, Sam Ford had been having a great game and he took the ball down brilliantly after twisting and turning in the box, sent a fine effort towards the left corner, but Whymark leapt from nowhere to produce a cracking save to deny him.

The second half started in the same fashion, with Felixstowe on the attack right from the start. Sam Ford pinged over a delicious ball into the box a minute in, and Charlie Warren was not going to pass up the opportunity for his 31st goal of the season and powered his header into the top corner for the Seasiders fourth of the afternoon. A minute later and another breathtaking save denied Charlie a second in two minutes, his diving header was destined for the corner until Whymark flew across to save it spectacularly. Ford was denied himself 2 minutes later, winning the ball on the byline by pressuring the two defenders and creating space to go one-on one with Whymark, but another close-range save kept him off the scoresheet. The inevitable happened on 59 minutes, with Ford finally getting the goal he deserved, taking the ball down ten yards from goal, steadying himself before picking his spot in the bottom right corner to make it five-nil. It was six on 65 minutes, the ball falling to substitute Callum Harrison on the right side of the area, he took it forward and sent the ball towards the far corner, this time the keeper allowing the effort to go over his hand and find the net. Sporting Bengal won a corner during a rare trip into the Felixstowe half and miskicked their effort from 12 yards to allow a comfortable clearance. The last 20 minutes were then once again dominated by the away side, Bengal had shown none of the speed, fight and passing football that had made for a great game at the Martello Ground in January, and although they did not give up on this occasion, they had no answer whatsoever to Felixstowe’s dominance all over the pitch. The travelling supporters were then celebrating a seventh on 71 minutes, and a contender for goal of the season. A clearance from the goal line fell to Cameron Forde-Brown who did not let the ball drop before leaping and scissor-kicking the ball, Paulo Dicanio style! Towards the roof of the net from 15 yards, the keeper getting a hand to it but unable to stop it due to the power of the strike, a truly special goal, the eleventh of the season for the on-loan King’s Lynn player. 7 Minutes later and it was Tom Warren’s turn for the spotlight and he grabbed the opportunity by smashing the ball into the far corner of the net, across the keeper from the left side, to complete his hat-trick and end the scoring in a game that the team had turned from a potential banana skin into a history making result, a result and performance that sent the brilliant away support into the adjacent Leisure centre, where in the absence of a bar, they celebrated around the foyer and drank the vending machine dry.

  Photos by Stefan Peck

Report by Stuart Daynes

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