Barking & Dagenham 1-3 West Kent
AFTER SIX MONTHS without a game, Barking & Dagenham dusted off the cobwebs and got back on the pitch for one last outing as the district U11 girls’ season came to a close against West Kent. And although the rustiness certainly showed in a ruthless opening ten minutes for the visitors, Barking & Dagenham rallied well to put in a second half performance full of character and resolve.
It was the hosts who had the first opportunity as early as the third minute when Tiana Dowuona-Hammond burst through midfield to slip winger Gracie Jones through on goal. A good first touch on the run, followed by a well-struck shot, brought a fine save from the West Kent keeper to signal an encouraging start.
Seconds later though, and the ball was in the net at the other end as the hosts were hit by a devastating counter-attack.
Bad to Worse
And, within a minute, it was two. A late challenge inside the Barking & Dagenham penalty area drew a clear foul, before the resulting spot-kick was dispatched with firm aplomb.
Things quickly went from bad to worse on ten minutes when a cavernous hole suddenly opened in the home side’s backline, with West Kent adding the third of what looked like becoming double figures.
Slowly though, Barking & Dagenham regrouped: working harder, making more tackles and earning the right to play.
And so it came that a trio of half-chances were forged in the ten minutes leading to the interval as Jones and Lily-Mae Elsey had provisional sighters on goal.
The second half began like an arm wrestle, with neither defence yielding. Vice-captain Ruby Abela was in defiant form, rallying the backline into life after its sluggish start.
And with Elsey and Dowuona-Hammond in the engine room, the tide of momentum began to turn, eventually resulting in Barking & Dagenham pegging one back.
Snarling
The goal was crafted by the persistence of Alissa Dhillon whose dangerous corner was cleared straight back to her on the left touchline. The Valence winger then showed great awareness to send across a snarling centre to Dowuona-Hammond, whose deft lay-off to Rihanna Zaman was slammed home from close range.
West Kent weren’t done yet. Connie McChrystal showed her class in goal with nine minutes remaining, diving to parry a certain goal before Dhillon mopped up with a vital clearance.
And an even better tip onto the bar from point-blank range two minutes later brought gasps of disbelief from the touchline before a well-deserved ovation from the crowd.
But it was Barking & Dagenham who continued to press and looked the more likely to score.
Another Dhillon set-piece fell to Arlinda Santo whose effort from the edge of the box spiralled wide.
And Dhillon almost received reward for her excellent second half display when her left foot effort on the run was well held.
Wonderful Group
Try as they might though, there was no way through for Barking & Dagenham as their extended season eventually came to an end. With the side joint top of the London Girls’ League going into Lockdown, they would be forgiven for wondering what might have been. However, that which was should be recognised and celebrated for a wonderful group of players who have been a pleasure to work with. We wish them well.
Barking & Dagenham: C McChrystal (Grafton); A Santo (Henry Green); R Abela (Dorothy Barley); A Dhillon (Valence); L Elsey (Northbury); Y Moore (Henry Green); T Duouwana-Hammond (George Carey); V Sharpe (Gascoigne); G Jones (Grafton); R Zaman (Hunters Hall); E Young (Hunters Hall)