Bethnal Green back to winning ways after Sawbridgeworth triumph

United too good for Sawbridgeworth

Bethnal Green United 3 Sawbridgeworth Town 0

Marvin Abegunde scored twice in his first start for four months as 10-man Bethnal Green eased past struggling Sawbridgeworth Town at Mile End Stadium on Saturday.

The midfielder found the net in each half, with Ryan Lee also on the score sheet and although the East Enders will be happy to get back to winning ways following last week’s defeat to Mauritius Sports, they will far from happy with Anton Stephenson’s second half sending off.

The Greens top scorer was booked by the referee just after half-time and was then shown a second yellow card after asking boss Justin Gardner to substitute him complaining about the standard of officiating.

“I thought it was a bit silly of the referee to send him off, I was going to bring him off anyway,” Gardner complained.

“I told Anton afterwards he had let the team down, but thankfully we got the win, if we lost my attitude would have been different.”

United put in a solid display against opponents second from bottom of the Essex Senior League table and Gardner was pleased with how his side performed.

“It was a good performance and I got the response I was looking for,” Gardner said.

“I made five changes and the players performed. Marvin played well and teenager Nathan Wilson came in on the right-hand side of midfield and was excellent.”

Abegunde gave united the lead after 23 minutes, heading home Kadir Jama’s cross.

Stephenson was sent off, but Greens rallied and it was again Abegunde who found the net after 55 minutes.

Moved up front as a target man he lost his marker before placing the ball past the goalkeeper.

Five minutes later Lee made the game safe when he beat two players on the left, cut inside and poked the ball past the Town goalkeeper.

“It was a professional performance and the players applied themselves in the correct manner,” Gardner said.

“Sawbridgeworth are an improved team, but still a side we should beat.”

United take on Burnham Ramblers this weekend in what is a tough away trip.

One of the longest away days of the season, Burnham are an inconsistent who were beaten by Southend Manor on Saturday, but before that contest had won four in a row.

“It’s a long way to go but it’s a game we are looking forward to,” Gardner said.

They are a good young footballing team so it should be a good game. Marlon Boateng should be back from a knee injury and could be on the bench as could midfielder Remi Nelson who played eight minutes against Sawbridgeworth. It was his first appearance of the season after a foot injury.”