Non-league: Woodford Town hit top, Sporting Bengal go nap

And Sporting Bengal United romped to a 5-1 victory over Takeley, while Hackney Wick beat Hutton 2-0 in Thurlow Nunn League Division One South.

But Barkingside saw their home match against Clapton Community postponed due to a floodlight failure at Cricklefield Stadium.

Woodford welcomed fellow unbeaten side West Essex to Ashtons, having been held to a 1-1 draw by Hullbridge Sports in their previous outing last Friday.

And Luke Parrott netted twice in an eight-minute spell midway through the first half to help them lead 2-1 at the interval.

Ernest Okoh sealed the points four minutes from time to the delight of boss Shane Baptiste.

He posted: “Excellent result tonight, very important 3 points, players deserve massive credit. Time to recover & prep for another tough away game on Saturday. Massive thanks to our fans tonight.”

Sporting Bengal moved up to fourth place, within two points of West Essex with their empahtic victory at Mile End Stadium.

They opened the scoring on 14 minutes when Sheri Artmeladze got into the box and teed up captain Sam Edwards to fire home.

But Takeley hit back almost immediately to level with a header at the far post.

Chaka Barnett added a brace to put the hosts 3-1 up at the interval, then set Artmeladze free in the second half to net with a stunning angled effort.

And Edwards completed Bengal’s nap hand with a superb long-range effort to cap a fine team display.

Meanwhile, Hackney Wick welcomed high-flying Hutton to their base at Witham Town, where 17-year-old Leo Pola Lopete came off the bench to net his second goal in two games to help seal the points.

And it meant a second successive defeat for Hutton, who had lost 2-1 at Clapton at the weekend.

Tower Hamlets had taken a point from a 1-1 draw at Enfield Borough on Tuesday net, where Solomon Asomah continued his superb scoring form with his ninth goal in 10 games this season.

Tuesday night also saw Frenford claim their first Essex Senior League of the campaign to end Romford’s eight-match unbeaten start.

Sam Ince fired them in front after just 24 seconds, before Bobby Dailly got Boro back on terms.

Dion Johnston put Frenford 2-1 up early in the second half, but Lee Hursit’s penalty looked to have earned the visitors a point.

Johnston won it for the hosts, though, just moments later.

Barking drew 2-2 with Great Wakering Rovers as Luke Hirst netted four minutes from time, following Brad Rowland’s first-half effort.

But Athletic Newham fell to a 3-0 defeat at Buckhurst Hill and Ilford went down 4-0 at Stanway Rovers, as Oluwatobiloba Aliu Adekunle and Max Sherlock netted twice each for the home side.

Attention now turns to Saturday and a busy schedule for local clubs.

Fixtures
Essex Senior League
Athletic Newham v Great Wakering
Barking v Coggeshall Town
FC Clacton v Ilford
Frenford v Stanway Rovers
Halstead Town v Woodford Town
Sporting Bengal v Little Oakley
White Ensign v Romford

Thurlow Nunn League
Barkingside v Southend Manor
Basildon Town v Clapton Community
Burnham Ramblers v Tower Hamlets
Cannons Wood v Enfield Borough
Hoddesdon v Clapton
Hutton v Brimsdown