Higley delighted by superb APSA

ESSEX SENIOR LEAGUE: London APSA 1 Bethnal Green United 1: BEAMING London APSA boss John Higley hailed his players as 'superb' after they took a point off title-chasing Bethnal Green United on Saturday.

The hosts went into the game with a sense of injustice after their fine performance in Mile End earlier in the season ended in defeat but both defences were on top for the first half.

The breakthrough came on 66 minutes when Langton played an incisive pass into Aubynn, whose run and shot deflected off the post and into the path of Burgess who tapped into an empty net.

Aubynn was also involved in the equaliser nine minutes later, when he conceded a contentious free kick against Stephenson, and the resulting ball into the box bounced off Green's Mpalampa and into the goal.

"The lads were suberb," said APSA boss Higley.

"Bethnal Green are second in the league and, in my opinion, were lucky to come away with a point.

"The defence and midfield were superb, working hard and limiting their chances.

"I don't think that the free kick that led to the goal was a free kick. The ref got that wrong and he didn't have a good game.

"He gave yellow cards out for soft tackles and let the important stuff go.

"I know that we can play like that, now we just have to be more consistent and if we do that, we will climb that league table."

In the first half, APSA skipper Langton used his experience to organise the home defence with Ali and McCallagh combining to keep the dangerous Stephenson quiet and keeper Brown also impressing.

Their first chance on goal came on 26 minutes when Akpele played in Aubynn who dashed to the byline and sent in an inviting low cross which nobody was able to reach.

Their other good chance in the game met a similar fate when Houghton's free kick was not dealt with by the United defence, but again there was no APSA forward ready to capitalise.

APSA host Stansted on Thursday evening in the Essex Senior League and then welcome Sawbridgeworth Town on Saturday afternoon.

APSA: Brown, Langton, McCallagh, Ali, P Mpalampa, Mustapha, S Mpalampa, Aubynn, Akpele, Burgess, Houghton. Subs: Shah, Bapu, Ellis.