Essex Senior League: Sporting Bengal 0 London Bari 1

Benjamin Oni came off the bench to score the winner for London Bari against Sporting Bengal at Mile End Stadium.

Clear-cut chances and excitement were a rare offering in this east London derby, but the decisive moment in the game was athing of beauty.

Entering the fray just after the hour mark, Oni made the difference with 15 minutes left when a long ball upfield left Toib Adeyemi facing his own goal.

The Sporting defender attempted to head the ball back to his goalkeeper, but he got it horribly wrong as his effort lacked pace, allowing Oni to pounce and chip the stranded Shamimaz Zaman from outside the area with a delightful lob.

Up to that point there had been no clear chances for either team, with both looking reluctant to push bodies forward and creating a stalemate.

But the break breathed new life into Bari and they were more willing to commit men to run in behind the home defence.

Oni was not the only Bari substitute to make an impact, as Adrian Sanchez came on at the interval and had a say in Bari’s improved performance, adding control in central midfield.

Sporting had been poor up until the goal, with their passing sloppy and their strikers static.

But they could have equalised with their very next attack when, with Bari still celebrating, a low shot broke found its way through and only needed a touch from Maamoun Khan, who was left all alone as the Bari defence was caught napping.

Sporting had another chance five minutes later when a long ball from Zaman travelled all the way to Prince William, who appeared to have the whole of the stadium to himself.

Picking the ball up on the left wing, in behind the Bari back four, he drove towards goal but as one defender made it back, William had a choice go alone or square it to Khan.

He chose the wrong one, shooting tamely and dragging the ball wide.

The home sime continued to apply late pressure as Bari reverted to a back five, but Sporting could not find a breakthrough and were unable to create an opening.

The chances for Khan and William would prove to be their best of the game, but Sporting could only have themselves to blame as they only appeared to start playing after falling behind.

Anwar Uddin’s men will look to regroup and address their indifferent form of late while top-six hopefuls Bari, having deserved their success simply by wanting it more, will look to extend their five-match unbeaten run when they return to the same venue to take on Tower Hamlets on Monday night.

Sporting Bengal: Zaman, M William, Ngulube, Borozam, Adeyemi, Kahie, P William, Roberts (Khan 68), Adewunmi, Noubissie, Jogae. Unused subs: Meikle, Ogazi, Burns.

London Bari: Boateng, McCarthy, Abdellaziz, Jimoh, Mpalampa, Athanaze (Nishizawa 85), Decker, Elukaydoe, Murson (Oni 68), Oloyede, Sanda (Sanchez 46). Unused sub: Koymen.