Barking & Dagenham 5-1 Tower Hamlets 

AN INSPIRATIONAL PERFORMANCE BY Judah Blair-Charles and his fellow defenders got Barking & Dagenham’s Lester Finch campaign off to a winning start – with a much-needed win against Tower Hamlets.

The BAD Boys’ confidence had taken a hit after two straight defeats, and the Hamlets sensed that this could be their day. They got off to a flying start and immediately put the hosts under pressure. A long ball over the top turned the Barking & Dagenham defence around, and with the visitors’ centre forward running through on goal to give the visitors the lead, Blair-Charles seemingly came from nowhere to make a perfectly timed slide tackle inside the box.

Resistance

Next up it was the turn of Grafton’s left back Callum Salmon to deny Tower Hamlets – as he also made a perfectly timed slide tackle.

Not to be outdone by his fellow defenders, Eghosa Ekhosuehi then took centre stage as Tower Hamlets were once again denied by Barking & Dagenham resistance.

Michael Milburn began to play. His creativity started to unlock the visitor’s defence, and his through ball was flashed just wide by Godwin’s Finley Hossack.

Shortly thereafter, Milburn would feed his in-form Five Elms team-mate Jordanne Thomas for a first time shot that went just wide.

Grafton’s Kylan Okosi’s long range effort went just over the bar.

The home side had finally woken up.

Tower Hamlets were however still in the game, and went on the attack. Their thrust was again halted by Blair-Charles, and the George Carey man slid the ball to Thomas on the right-hand side. Quick feet and a pinpoint cross found Milburn unmarked on the edge of the box, and his low, hard shot went into the bottom corner for 1-0 on fourteen minutes.

Clearance

The hosts were in celebratory mood, but were nearly caught out by Tower Hamlets minutes later. A raid down the left and low cross seemed certain to be turned in at the near post, but Blair-Chares somehow made a miraculous clearance off the line.

More of the same followed for the remainder of the first half, but the BAD Boys’ defence held firm – and got to half time ahead.

The second period began as the first one had ended with Tower Hamlets desperate for the equaliser.

Attack after attack was repelled by the home defence, and William Bellamy’s Cezar Curbet in the Barking & Dagenham goal made a fine save from a low shot inside the box.

It seemed like only a matter of time before the visitors would draw level.

That was however until a long ball over the top found Valence’s Oba Adetona through on goal on forty minutes. He set himself and enjoyed the good fortune of a deflection that took his shot past the keeper and into the net – for the cushion the hosts desperately needed.

Game on

With a two goal lead the hosts relaxed – and were immediately caught out. A needlessly given away corner was headed in by an unmarked Hamlet.  It was 2-1 – and game on.

Tower Hamlets had the wind in their sails and could smell an equaliser. A ten-minute siege was laid on the home penalty area, leaving both sets of supporters on the edge of their seats.

First, Salmon denied the Hamlets right winger with yet another perfectly timed slide tackle.

Then, Ekhosuehi headed off the line from a visiting corner, before Blair-Charles saved the best till last.

A two versus one foray saw the George Carey defender make a last-ditch slide tackle, before quickly recovering to his feet to clear the subsequent rebound off the line – with both sets of spectators in raptures.

In need of inspiration – and a break from the pressure – Milburn took control of the final ten minutes. A long ball was headed clear by man of the match Blair-Charles into Milburn’s path on the halfway line. His jinking run and sublime through ball found Vasile Paul charging into the penalty area. The Parsloes midfielder calmly slotted the ball across the Hamlets keeper into the bottom corner – and the home side’s two goal lead had been restored.

Ruthless

With only ten minutes remaining – and down two goals – Tower Hamlets threw everything at the hosts. Everyone in blue charged forward, and the resulting spaces would be exploited by the BAD Boys’ captain in ruthless fashion.

On fifty-three minutes he again laid on an assist for Paul’s second, before scoring the goal of the game himself. Picking the ball up just inside his own half, Milburn dribbled past five Hamlets before unloading a powerful curling shot that ended the scoring – and the game as a contest.

Next up, the hosts will hope to build on the momentum in their crucial Essex League game at home to Thurrock to begin the New Year.

Barking & Dagenham: Freddie Cable (Grafton), Judah Blair-Charles (George Carey), Callum Salmon (Grafton), Jordanne Thomas (Five Elms), Kylan Okosi (Grafton), Captain – Michael Milburn (Five Elms), Owen Orhue (St Vincent’s), Oba Adetona (Valence), Elijah Armah (Richard Alibon), Oliver Grange (Roding Cannington), Finley Hossack (Godwin), Eghosa Ekhosuehi (St Vincent’s), Cezar Curbet (William Bellamy), Vasile Paul (Parsloes)

Paul (Parsloes)