Barking & Dagenham 2-3 Lewisham
THERE WAS A FIRST match in three weeks for Barking & Dagenham as Lewisham were the visitors to Robert Clack for the squad’s final match before the competitive season begins. And the cobwebs were well and truly in place in a lacklustre first-half display that saw the BAD Girls fall 2-0 behind with less than twenty minutes on the clock. A stirring second half comeback almost brought about a remarkable U-turn in fortunes until a late free-kick for the visitors took the spoils, leaving the home side to rue their missed chances and ponderous start to the game.
Despite being far from their brilliant best, Barking & Dagenham had no shortage of opportunities to open the scoring.
Denied
In the eighth minute, Abbie Blewitt almost penetrated the Lewisham backline until a last-ditch tackle denied her at the last possible moment. And from the resulting corner, Blewitt, Amelia Hussain and Comfort Mazel conjured up a shooting opportunity for Malaika Uwandji cutting in from the left.
Uwandji was almost in again a minute later when Paloma Correia’s calm play sent her through once more, but the curling effort shanked wide and harmlessly behind.
The hosts were made to pay with ten on the clock when a poor clearance was capitalised upon, but they were back in the opposition box shortly afterwards when Mazel tee-ed up Hussain for a drive that brought a desperate block on the line by the keeper’s shins.
Another moment of defensive hesitation followed however, and Lewisham doubled their lead to punish the hosts profligacy in front of goal.
Cue the introduction of striker Simonette Johnson from the bench and suddenly there was a great deal more menace about the home side’s attacks which were now powered by intent rather than hope.
Handful
Almost immediately after coming on, she proved a handful for the visitor’s rearguard and was felled on the edge of the box. Blewitt’s free-kick was saved, but the levels of focus and intensity were noticeable increased.
On the stroke of half-time, Barking & Dagenham almost clawed one back: the composed Correia found Aaliyah Felix on the left flank who cut inside to Blewitt before her charged-down effort fell to Felix, who went close on the follow up.
The hosts didn’t have to wait long though. Three minutes after the restart, Blewitt collected a loose clearance with the keeper out of position, confidently taking a touch before stroking the ball into the empty net from twenty-five yards.
Lewisham then survived a strong shout for a penalty as Felix was tripped in the box, but Barking & Dagenham pulled level just minutes later when the outstanding Mazel won possession in the centre circle an..d spread play wide to Hussain on the right. The nippy winger’s centre fell to Felix who was crowded out by the sheer weight of retreating numbers, but Johnson pounced to lash home and take the score to 2-2.
Game on.
Almost
Barking & Dagenham continued to press…
Johnson held the ball up well to lay off for Blewitt to poke into the keeper’s arms after arriving late in the box.
Then the returning Uwandji almost pounced, dragging her effort from the edge of the box just wide before recovering well to play in Johnson for another chance just moments later.
But a late free-kick five minutes from time proved the difference. With the visitors only attempt on target during the half, the score swung back in their favour, taking the sting out of the home side’s comeback and ensuring Lewisham took the honours back to South London.
Barking & Dagenham: Emily Peka (Valence); Jona Islami (Roding); Gilda Hasani (Northbury); Zainab Touray (Northbury); Abbie Blewitt (Hunters Hall); Paloma Correia (George Carey); Amelia Hussain (Richard Alibon); Malaika Uwandji (Roding); Aaliyah Felix (Goresbrook); Simonette Johnson (St Peter’s); Comfort Mazel (Godwin)