Barking & Dagenham 3-7 Chelmsford & Mid-Essex
BARKING & DAGENHAM U11S PAID the price for a slow start as they went down 7-3 to a talented Chelmsford & Mid Essex side on Saturday. Goals from David Osei-Kaffour, Ethan Wenayeto and Harry Brown did, however, give the side some positives to take into their opening Essex Finch league game next week.
Bright Start
The home side made a bright start and only two fine saves from debutant Frankie Tidd prevented them from taking the lead. Chelmsford also struck the woodwork twice in the opening stages as Barking struggled to deal with their movement.
It was no surprise, then, when they finally took the lead courtesy of an incisive move. They doubled their lead with their next attack and made it 3-0 with another well worked move. Barking were really up against it and Chelmsford scored a fourth as Barking failed to clear a corner.
At 4-0 down, with barely ten minutes on the clock, Barking could have folded but showed some great fight. Connor Gavin was inches away from clawing a goal back, his late, back post run almost saw him get on the end of a Wenayeto cross.
The hardworking Brown then stung the palms of the Chelmsford keeper with a rasping drive whilst Wenayeto and Osei-Kaffour neatly worked a neat 1-2 on the edge of the area but the Chelmsford goalie was quick off his line to snuff out the danger.
Front Foot
Barking started the second period on the front foot and Brown drew a smart save from the home keeper with another long range effort.
Then, from the resulting corner, Barking got their rewards for their improved showing. Kye Calvey’s in swinging corner wasn’t properly cleared and Osei-Kaffour was on hand to fire the ball home from close range. Calvey then almost set up Osei-Kaffour after a swashbuckling run from the full back but Osei-Kaffour saw his effort well saved.
Unstoppable
Chelmsford remained a threat on the break and scored twice on quick succession to increase their lead. Two quick breakaways saw the home side go 6-1 up. However, Barking refused to lie down and scored again with the goal of the game. Wenayeto received the wide on the left, he skipped past three challenges before unleashing an unstoppable shot that flew into the top corner, giving the home keeper no chance.
Thunderbolt
Barking continued to battle away in the final period and Brown saw an effort fly narrowly wide. Wenayeto went close with another powerful strike but it was Chelmsford who scored again as the visitors failed to clear the ball, allowing the striker time and space to slot home.
Barking then grabbed a third courtesy of a thunderbolt effort from skipper Brown. Barking were awarded a free kick twenty-five yards from goal and smashed the ball over the wall and past the Chelmsford keeper. Brown then saw another free kick effort strike the post after he had been bundled over when clean through on goal.
Despite the defeat, Barking can be buoyed by the fighting spirit that they showed, especially as they were staring down the barrel so early in the game. They will be hoping to show the same application when they entertain Thurrock at home on Saturday but know they must make a better start if they are to get anything in their league opener.
Barking & Dagenham: A Young, A Towse, J Atoki, T Sveikauskas, O Duggan, E Wenayeto, J. Modza Smith, C Gavin, K Calvy, H Brown, D Osei-Kuffour, J Ngala, F Tidd, A McCrae-Alexiou.