BARKING & DAGENHAM U11S FELL to defeat in their opening Lester Finch Trophy group game: goals from Jaqwaan Williams and Joe Martin were in vain as they were put to the sword by a slick Islington side.
Despite a lengthy journey and bitterly cold conditions, Barking & Dagenham started well and took the lead within the first ninety seconds. Williams seized upon a loose pass inside the Islington penalty area to slam the ball past Sidney Marshall in the home goal.
Kien Connelly then tested Marshall with two firm efforts but both were dealt with by the home keeper.
Islington slowly edged their way into the game and almost drew level after a swift counter attack. However, Jonnie Gurie saw his low effort strike the post but it wasn’t long before they were on level terms.
Marshall’s long kick released the pacy Stephane Mgbada, who raced into the Barking & Dagenham area before laying the ball in the path of Freddie Brennan who made no mistake from ten yards.
Over
At the other end, Amin Karim saw his effort well held by Marshall and Connelly’s well-struck free-kick went narrowly over.
Favour Fawunmi then flashed the ball across the Islington goalmouth, with Karim inches away from applying the finishing touch.
Tyler Rice was then called into action when Gurie found time and space on the edge of the area but Rice saved well with his feet and the sides went into the break on level terms.
The second half was a scrappy affair with both sides guilty of misplaced passes. Connelly almost released Williams with a moment of real quality but Tyreese Piper-Burt produced a well-timed challenge to thwart the danger.
With the snow falling and the temperatures dipping, the game remained scrappy but – halfway through the half – the home side went in front. A long goal kick from Alfie Gordon wasn’t dealt with by the Barking & Dagenham back line and Mgbada raced away from his marker before coolly slotting the ball through the legs of Brandon Dean.
Offside
The goal saw the home side’s tails up and they almost increased their lead with their next attack. Gurie’s in-swinging free kick evaded everyone before going in off the post. However, the home side’s joy was short-lived after the referee decided Mgbada was in an offside position.
Barking & Dagenham tried to get back into the game and began to exert some pressure on the home side. Martin saw an effort flash wide after a corner had only be half cleared and Fawunmi fired over the bar after cutting in from the left wing.
With time against them, Barking & Dagenham knew they had to score next but they were undone by another counter attack as Islington went further in front. Gurie was again involved, skipping past two challenges before crossing into the area where Mgbada timed his run to perfection to tap the ball past Dean.
Thunderbolt
3-1 soon became 4-1 courtesy of a thunderbolt effort from Cameron Walker. The Islington winger cut inside his marker before smashing the ball into the top corner from fully 25 yards.
Barking & Dagenham refused to lay down and reduced the deficit with another wonderful strike. Fawunmi was fouled 25 yards from goal and Martin stepped up to hammer the ball into the top corner, giving Gordon no chance. With their next attack,
Barking & Dagenham almost set up a grandstand finish but Karim’s low drive went agonisingly wide with Gordon well beaten.
However, any outside chance of Barking & Dagenham getting anything from the game was soon snuffed out as the home side sealed their victory with two goals in as many minutes. Firstly, Mgbada stormed past three Barking & Dagenham players before laying the ball on a plate for Gurie to finish at the back post. Then Barking & Dagenham failed to clear the ball from their area and Jack Vargas’ centre was empathically finished by Mgbada Mdbada who put the seal on an impressive personal display by completing his hat-trick.
Well beaten on the day, Barking & Dagenham will now look to finish their Essex Finch league campaign on a high when they welcome title-chasing Chelmsford to M&B next week in a game that has massive implications at the top of the table.