Barking & Dagenham 0-1 Haringey
BARKING & DAGENHAM’S LONDON GIRLS’ League hopes took a setback as Haringey left with all three points in a brilliantly contested battle at May & Bakers. With snow falling for the entirety of the game, and conditions only just playable, the hosts showed tremendous character and resolve in their attempt to stifle the runaway visiting league leaders.
Barking & Dagenham began the game positively with defensive duo Aaliyah Young and Tina Mutuale in resolute mood, repelling the advances of the much-fancied opposition and relishing the dog-fight caused by the inclement weather.
Decisive
Steadfast too was keeper Kaydee Bhavnani – who show excellent handling throughout. However, even she remained helpless when a loose ball fell to an unmarked player five yards out from goal for Haringey’s tenth minute decisive strike.
The rest of the game saw Haringey restricted to half chances whilst Barking & Dagenham showed great resilience in their attempts to turn the game around.
First Emily Brown picked out Ella Eskelson in the area, only for the Hunters Hall hit-woman’s effort to be saved.
Brown, Layla Duffield and Grace Young all had first half chances however none of their efforts truly tested the keeper.
Saves
That all changed after the break when the visiting stopper made a succession of great saves to deny Brown, Duffield and Pahris Cotterell – who all hit attempts that would have beaten to vast majority of goalies.
Sadly, it was not to be on this occasion, however the challenges faced in the last two games have seen the team mature and progress confidently into the matches ahead.
Barking & Dagenham: K Bhavnani (Parsloes); A Young (James Cambell); L Duffield, E Brown (Godwin); T Mutuale (Henry Green); P Cotterell (Manor Longbridge); E Eskelson, G Young (Hunters Hall)