Camden 0-14 Barking & Dagenham
SKIPPER MILLIE BLYTHE smashed four goals to move into third position on the Barking & Dagenham girls’ all-time scorers list as her side ran riot in North West London. Nour Khalfaoui also notched up four whilst Mariam-Daisy Ngobo (3), Makayla Smith (2) and Gabriella Gomes all got in on the act. The result sees the district U11s team lead their London Girls’ League group, one point ahead of their hosts, with just two games remaining.
In attrocious conditions, Barking & Dagenham took time to settle against the depleted home side who were missing four of their regular starters.
However it was Camden who produced the first real moment of danger when a fierce free-kick was held under pressure by Hannah Embery.
Catalyst
Midway through the first half, Barking & Dagenham registered their interest in taking the lead as Blythe cut in from the left flank before firing a low shot that was palmed away by the Camden keeper. Ngobo’s follow up was tipped over for a corner but the chance proved to be the catalyst for Barking & Dagenham to shake off the shackles and cut loose.
Seconds later, Ngobo converted Blythe’s cross when under pressure before snaffling a second following Alisha Johnson’s charged down attempt.
Straight from the restart, Blythe skipped down the left wing, sending in a speculative drive that proved too hot for the home keeper to handle and making it three.
Substitute Khalfaoui extended the advantage with her first touch of the game, calmly converting Blythe’s centre, before the captain added her second of the afternoon from the penalty spot.
Smith then hit the post from close range before smashing home a loose ball from the edge of the box for 6-0.
Khalfaoui confidently made it seven to wrap up an astonishing fifteen minute onslaught prior to the half-time whistle signalling the briefest of respites for the home team,
Friendly
Under league rules, once a seven goal advantage is accrued, a result is declared so the rest of the match was played out as a friendly.
Once the second half began though, Smith quickly doubled her tally before Gomes’ left foot effort made it nine.
Khalfaoui stretched the lead to double figures wrapping up a well deserved treble then immediately converted Pahris Cotterell’s corner for her fourth.
Ngobo swept a loose ball home to earn her second hat-trick of the season; a feat matched shortly after by Blythe who later stretched the lead to fourteen in the closing stages.
Barking & Dagenham’s remaining fixtures are at home as they welcome the visits of West Kent and Barnet in a bid to hang on to their slender advantage at the top of the group.
Barking & Dagenham: Babatunde (Richard Alibon); Embery, Blythe, Johnson (Valence); Gomes (St Joseph’s Dagenham); Ngobo Azeez (Godwin); Cotterell (Manor Longbridge); Khalfaoui (Hunters Hall); Smith (Henry Green)