Gordon Brasted Memorial Trophy: Tower Hamlets 0 Clapton 3; Great Wakering Rovers 10 Sporting Bengal 2

Clapton continued their remarkable start to the season going with a 3-0 derby win over Tower Hamlets in the Gordon Brasted Memorial Trophy at Mile End Stadium last night.

Chris Wood suggested he’d make changes for the fixture to look at his squad options, and Tom Jeffes netted for the Tons in the victory and AJ Olatunbosun’s Tower Hamlets in front of a 140-strong crowd.

The win sets them up perfectly for their home league fixture with Sawbridgeworth Town on Saturday, while Tower Hamlets will look for a response when they travel to Mayesbrook Park to face Barking.

Sporting Bengal conceded 10 as they were knocked out of the Gordon Brasted Memorial Trophy at Essex Senior League leaders Great Wakering Rovers, writes Brian Jeeves.

Sporting’s Javier Riviera saw his free-kick expertly dealt with by Dale Brightly, but after just five minutes, Dan Trenkel crossed from the left and Joe Skeels fired past Amando Hall.

Skeels doubled his tally when he was played in by Aaron Baldwin before rounding Hall and player-manager Trenkel added a quickfire third as he headed home Max Kent’s cross.

Rovers doubled their advantage when Baldwin found Skeels with a perfect ball, who in turn rounded Hall to add his and the home sides second.

Before the visitors could draw breath it was 3-0. This time player-manager Trenkel heading home Max Kent’s deep cross.

Rovers had the bit between their teeth. Baldwin sent a low shot past Hall to make it 4-0 and then just before the interval Trenkel added a fifth after James Pugsley had unselfishly squared.

A minute after the restart there was some brief respite for Sporting. The impressive Riviera picked out substitute Steve Ougbo who beat Brightly to reduce the arrears.

Just before the hour mark, normal service was resumed. Firstly, Lewis Sparrow crashed home Rovers sixth following a Dave Collins flag kick then Carl Read made it 7-1, slotting home after tremendous work from Ashley Hawkins and Trenkel.

There was no letup for Sporting. Trenkel crossed for Baldwin to net Rovers eighth while at the other end Brightly saved Riviera’s disappointing spot kick after Hawkins was adjudged to have handled.

While those around him buckled, Sporting substitute Ougbo was not giving up. After twice going close, he finally added his and the visitors second with an effort that deflected past Brightly.

But this was to be a traumatic night for Sporting. Trenkel grabbed his hat-trick, heading home Rovers ninth from Collins’ pinpoint corner, and then in the burning embers the Rovers gaffer beat Hall with a low strike for his fourth and Great Wakering’s tenth.

Sporting Bengal will look to regroup with a home game against mid-tabled Hullbridge Sports on Saturday.

Sporting Bengal: Hall, Heskey, Williams, O Raman, L Raman, Riviera, Noor, Jatto, Williams, Ameer, Sadus Ahmed.

Substitutes: Ougbo, Shahed Ahmed, Redwood, Tariq, Zaman.