Barking & Dagenham 1-1 Croydon
IT WAS THE START of new era for Barking & Dagenham as they took up residency in their new home at The Bobby Moore Sports Hub with a scrappy 1-1 draw against visitors Croydon. Struggling to blow away the Christmas cobwebs, a lacklustre opening saw the Surrey side take the lead before a perkier second half showing brought a fifth goal in three games for Malaika Uwandji, with just the width of the woodwork denying the home side a battling win.
Croydon started much the brighter, pinning Barking & Dagenham inside their own half for much of the initial sparring, until Zainab Touray’s fast feet released Uwandji down the left. The Roding winger skipped inside from a wide left position to open up the goal, only for her side-foot effort to fall wide of the far post.
Wrong Side
From the resulting free-kick, Abbie Blewitt came close with her intercepted effort from the edge of the box dropping on the wrong side of the other upright.
But that was it for Barking & Dagenham, who were a yard off the pace all over the pitch, dwelling on the ball too long and finding their ponderous play exposed by Croydon’s snappier approach.
So it was no surprise in the twenty-first minute when the home side failed to clear their lines, hanging onto the ball too long inside the six-yard box and gifting their opponents the lead.
The second half saw improved shape from the home side as they exploited their attacking flanks with increased purpose.
The catalyst came when Uwandji and Aaliyah Felix swapped wings with twenty minutes to go – and suddenly the chances began to flow.
Equaliser
The first one resulted in the equaliser. Tenacious play from Gilda Hasani saw the left-back pop up to win a challenge in the inside-right channel, before stroking the ball into Uwandji’s path. A first time shot from the touchline – at the narrowest of angles – looked to be making its way into the keeper’s arms, but a last second touch of sidespin caused chaos, with Uwandji’s speculative effort squirming over the line to level the scores.
Two minutes later, Barking & Dagenham almost took the lead as Uwandji’s right-sided corner was met ten yards out by Felix; her swept finish evading not only the crowded box, but sadly the goal as well.
With nine minutes remaining, Amelia Hussain’s delicate through-ball saw Felix drill wide again before a hat-trick of chances inside five minutes was wrapped up when Felix’s low drive cannoned back off the post with the keeper well-beaten.
Superb technique saw Blewitt test the goalie with an exquisite volley from twenty-five yards.
But, in the end, Barking & Dagenham had keeper Emily Peka to thank for ensuring a share of the spoils as the Valence stopper was twice on hand to deny the visitors in the closing stages with smart stops.
Back Together
It was an eighth draw in twelve matches this season for Barking & Dagenham. However, the result was secondary to the opportunity to get back on the pitch together after a four week break ahead of challenging fixtures in the coming weeks, the first of which sees the district side in action at St Albans in the London Girls’ League on Saturday 20th January.
Making Bobby Moore a fortress will be crucial to their title prospects as Havering, Hackney, Chelmsford, Gloucester and Barnet all make the trip to Parsloes Park, with five of the following six fixtures at home.
If Barking & Dagenham can make it through that run unbeaten, they will be in pole position for both an Essex and London League double.
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); Maria Mateus (George Carey)