Wandsworth 3-3 Barking & Dagenham

BARKING & DAGENAHM U11S PRODUCED a show of real character to earn a point away at Wandsworth in their opening Lester Finch Trophy game. Goals from Tolu Fabamifobee, Matas Kilmas and Somfechi Ukonu saw the side come from behind three times to earn a share of the spoils.

The opening exchanges of the game were just shaded by the visitors but it was the home side who drew first blood. Rio Inayat’s excellent save fell right into the path of Will Sanders, who tucked home from close range.

However, Barking & Dagenham replied almost immediately with a well-worked goal. Enzo Pougoue-Ngalamou’s exquisite through ball released Fabamifobee, who coolly slotted home his seventh of the campaign.

Barking & Dagenham almost went in front with their next attack but Fabamifobee’s low drive found the side netting.

Unlucky

Wandsworth then went up the other end and retook the lead. Once again, Inayat was unlucky as his save rebounded off Sanders before trickling over the line.

If the home side’s goals were fortunate, Barking & Dagenham’s equaliser was the complete opposite as they levelled things up with a goal of real quality. A flowing, one-touch move involving three players saw Klimas in space and he curled a superb drive into the far corner of the net from thirteen yards.

The home side went back in front as the second half wore on. A surging run from Alex Hunter wasn’t stopped by the visitors’ defence and Hunter slipped in Mario Barr, who made no mistake from eight yards out.

Ukonu

Barking & Dagenham refused to lie down though and set about getting back level. They continued to press forward but were unable to find a way through the home side’s rearguard until the introduction of Ukonu. With just minutes left, the Dorothy Barley striker, who had only just arrived after getting stuck in traffic, latched on to a through ball and finished with real aplomb past Sam Walker in the home goal.

It was his first touch and was no more than the visitors deserved. With their tails up, Barking & Dagenham went in search of a winner but were unable to and made the long journey home with a well-deserved and hard-earned point.

Barking & Dagenham: Rio Inayat, (Valence), Reece Jeffs (Hunters Hall), Riley Setters (Godwin), Lewis Collingridge (Richard Alibon), Tolu Fabamifobee, (George Carey),  Enzo Pougoue-Ngalamou (The Leys), Frankie Ishmail (Northbury), Eduard Iusco (Marks Gate), Matas Klimas (Marsh Green), Somfechi Ukuno, (Dorothy Barley), Aidon Shehu (Hunters Hall)