JACK Sibbons scored the winner as Little Oakley beat Essex Senior League leaders Sporting Bengal United 3-2 at the Memorial Ground, writes LARRY DOBKIN.

The Acorns started much the brighter and within two minutes a good crisp passing move resulted in a driven cross into the box being met by Jack Sibbons, whose header went narrowly over the bar.

Sporting then gradually started to get into the game with a ball over the top finding Christian Gyamfi who ran at Ed Nobbs but the experienced defender managed to get the ball off for a corner.

Sporting went ahead when a corner was whipped into the back post and took a cruel deflection off Wood before sailing past Lawlor.

Despite the goal, Oakley were getting the upper hand in midfield and they equalised on the half hour mark.

Harry Mann's shot was saved by keeper Haidara who pushed the ball away from goal but only managed to find Liam Riley who slotted home for 1-1.

And Oakley went ahead when Nathan Rowe received the ball in the area with defenders all around him and placed his shot past the keeper.

Sporting did not lose belief and Keanu Hill's half volley crashed off the crossbar, before Sibbons cleared.

A half chance for Mann saw his powerful shot go just wide, as Oakley went in at the break ahead.

Sporting Bengal got back on level terms just after half-time when Oakley's free-kick was cleared upfield and Gyamfi ran at the home defence before hitting a well-directed shot past Lawlor for 2-2.

Sporting were now in the ascendency and looked like they could score at any time and Hall's long-range shot hit the bar and came back out to Gyamfi, but his shot flew over the bar.

The game then started the become more erratic, as both teams went for the win.

Sporting had a chance to score again when Alagi Juana was adjudged to have been fouled in the box and a penalty was awarded.

Gyamfi took the penalty, but Lawlor guessed the right way and got a strong hand on the shot, pushing the ball away from goal.

And Oakley snatched the victory when Sibbons sent a side-foot volley into the top of the net at the back post, from a corner.

Little Oakley's player of the match was Jack Sibbons who gets better with every game.