Lordswood 4-1 Sporting Bengal United - We've played better and lost, says Lillis

“We didn’t know what we were going to get from Bengal as it was a completely different side to the one that played Herne Bay at the weekend. 

“The boys stuck at it, and we got stronger as the game wore on and could have got more than the four goals we did. 

“The boys kept their heads and I’m delighted with the performance.  The penalty just before half time was the turning point and that gave us confidence that the boys haven’t had before.”
 
And with that confidence Lords closed the gap at the foot of the Kent League to just two points, with Corinthian having played two games more.
 
But the evening started so badly for the home side as the rampaging John Donoghue (who was to be a thorn in Lordswood’s side all night) rolled the ball into an empty net after a corner caused near meltdown in the home defence!
 
Not that the home side were behind for long as Jamie Humphris let fly from 25 yards and the ball screamed into the top left corner of the net with Bengal keeper Jason Hartless clutching at thin air!
 
With Donoghue asking questions of the Lordswood defence every time he ran at them, some of his team mates finally began to exploit the gaps and on 32 minutes Sadik Ahmed was desperately unlucky to see a super curling shot come back off the right post, as the visitors really began to ask questions of the home back line.
 
Then ten minutes before half time Luke Wallond was bundled over in the box, and as the referee pointed to the spot the Lordswood number 10 duly dusted himself down and buried the spot kick to give the home side the lead at the end of a pulsating 45 minutes.
 
The second half began as enthralling as the first had finished. 

On 58 minutes Lordswood had a series of chances to extend their lead – first Adam Whitnell went close with a drive which was well saved by Hartless, and form the resulting corner Humphris ‘ drive was deflected narrowly past the post before from the second comer Allan Scott headed straight into the arms of a grateful Hartless.
 
On 62 minutes Bengal’s night began to fall apart as Aaron Hutchins was shown a second yellow card to leave the visitors a man light and within three minutes the home side made them pay as Dominic Elmes battled through to slide the ball wide of the keeper and into the net.
 
To give them credit, the ten men tried to battle back and missed a couple of clear chances to get back into the game.

Firstly Ahmed prodded wide of an open goal from 20 yards after home keeper Rowan Arnott had gone “walkabout” at a free kick before the keeper redeemed himself – making a smart save to deny Donoghue with his legs on the very edge of the box!
 
Lordswood sub Rob Norman could have made the game safe on 84 minutes as he raced through, and rounded the keeper only for Omar Farque to keep his side in the game with a great goal line clearance. 

Bengal’s night was over though on 86 when keeper Hartless inexplicably head butted Wallond on the edge of the box after the ball had gone. 

Having already been booked for a clumsy tackle outside his box on the same player, the Bengal keeper was already heading for the dressing room before referee Mr Ian Fissenden pulled out a straight red card.
 
The home side then rubbed salt into the visitors sores by scoring a fourth in stoppage time as Del Kitchener drilled in a low centre which fellow substitute Newman turned in at the near post.
 
So Lordswood get their first win under Lillis’ stewardship, and now in the words of the song, “the only way is up!”
 
Lordswood: Rowan Arnott, Alec Osbourne, Chris Lemar, Danny Cook, Nick Berkhauer, Ray Broad, Adam Whitnell (Del Kitchener 73), Allan Scott, Dominic Elmes (Rob Norman 76), Luke Worland, Jamie Humphris (Adam Ling 81).
Subs: Chris Bather, Nathaniel Masters

Booked:  Alec Osbourne 51, Ray Broad 71
 
Goals: Jamie Humphris 12, Luke Wallond (penalty) 37, Dominic Elmes 65, Rob Newman 90

Sporting Bengal United: Jason Hartless, Dave Taylor, Lliton Zaman (Ahmed Sadik 46), Aaron Hutchins, Antoine Louis, Judan Zacking, Abidur Rahman, Omar Farque, Jamie Muders (Daniel Smith 62), Sadik Ahmed, John Donoghue.
Sub: Abdul Mutacib

Booked: Aaron Hutchins 35, Omar Farque 61, Jason Hartless 78

Sent off:  Aaron Hutchins 62, Jason Hartless 87
 
Goal:  John Donaghue 4