When the draw was made live on the ILFL Extra show, this cup tie stood out of the bunch as it put a Brick Lane team fighting for promotion against the runaway Champions of the Second Division, Shadwell B, who had failed to win just one game all season and had just knocked out the defending champions, Cannon FC in the last round.
Many football experts and pundits put this one down as a possible cup upset but it wasn’t to be as FC Brick Lane showed their attacking prowess to eliminate Shadwell B out of the cup in a cold morning game at Bartlett Park.
FC Brick Lane started well and took the lead when winger Emran worked his magic down the right and played in a ball to Kapsar who had drifted into the centre from the left. With his back to goal, Kapsar showed great awareness to shift the ball further out wide to stretch the Shadwell defence. Attacking midfielder Sam picked up the ball and coolly dispatched the ball into the bottom right hand corner of the net. The speed of play was too quick for Shadwell to defend and Brick Lane had taken a 1-0 lead.
It seemed as if the Shadwell B team were still in bed as Brick Lane looked to capitalise and double the lead. They eventually did as good work by Kapsar down the left wing allowed him to cross into the six yard box from the byline. A Shadwell defender managed to head it away at the front post but the clearance fell to central midfielder Shakil just inside the 18 yard box where he volleyed home into the bottom right hand corner to double FC Brick Lane’s lead to 2-0.
Shadwell B decided to wake up and were beginning to look like a threat to score without really testing goalkeeper Ruhel in the Brick Lane goal. Ruf, captain of Shadwell B, threatened his former club from his deliveries from free kicks but Shadwell B failed to convert from any of his deliveries into the box.
FC Brick Lane could’ve scored a few more but squandered key opportunities in the game. However they did get a well deserved third when Shakil latched on to a loose ball and drove towards the Shadwell defence. He lifted the ball towards Kapsar’s chest who then with his back towards goal, turned both of the centre backs who were in close vicinity to hit an exquisite volley on the turn into the bottom corner of the net.
It was 3-0 and Shadwell were now chasing the game and committing players forward. FC Brick Lane countered and great play down the left saw full back Afsaur run down the wing. Afsaur got to the byline and whipped in a great cross for Shakil who had burst into the box. Shakil beautifully controlled the ball on his chest and volleyed in his second goal to give FC Brick Lane a 4-0 win over Shadwell B.
The win meant that FC Brick Lane would enter the hat for the cup draw. However, it remains to be seen which round the ILFL Challenge Cup is in as 6 teams have advanced to the next round. Only the ILFL board can explain which format the cups are being played in this year as no-one else seems to have a clue.
Match against Tigers: