ROVERS 1-2 SPORTING BENGAL UTD

Match report taken from Southend Echo (Editor Chris Phillips)

Rovers had two spot-kicks saved by Sporting Bengal goalkeeper Sidi Haidare before the visitors netted a last gasp penalty of their own to triumph 2-1 on the opening day of the Essex Senior League season.

Sporting Bengal also found things tough early on against Wakering, giving away a penalty inside the opening 30 seconds.

However, Jake Gordon’s penalty was kept out by Haidare who dived to his left hand side to parry the effort away.

After the break, Wakering wasted their second spot kick of the afternoon as Ben Search saw his 12 yard shot saved by Haidare low down to his right hand side.

Wakering finally took the lead on the hour mark courtesy of a free-kick from Gordon which Haidare could only tip onto the inside of the right post before it hit the back of the net.

Sporting Bengal equalised 10 minutes from time with Sheri Artmeladze firing home from just inside the penalty area.

But the drama did not stop there and, deep into stoppage time, the visitors were awarded a spot-kick of their own.

The penalty was saved by Luis Shamshoum but the Wakering goalkeeper was adjudged to be off his line.

Artmeladze took control of the retaken effort which he fired high into the centre of the net to secure all three points.

However, Artmeladze was then red carded for his part in a melee between the two teams which came after he celebrated his winning goal right in front of Shamshoum.