16/2/16 – Islington Festival

DSCN2997 Barking & Dagenham Girls

THE ANNUAL ISLINGTON FEBRUARY half-term festival saw an entry from Barking & Dagenham for a seventh successive year as they came up against some of the most talented teams from around the capital. Teams from Croydon, Camden, Brent, Woking and Islington all lined up against the district girls in a tournament of few chances and even fewer goals.

First up were an attacking Croydon outfit who went on to claim the eventual runners-up spot. Barking & Dagenham coped well with their pace going forward but naive marking from an innocuous second half throw-in presented their opponents with a gift of a chance from which they made no mistake.

It was the first goal Barking & Dagenham had conceded in over two hundred minutes of football but it was enough to settle the tie in the cruelest of fashion.

Stronger

A stronger performance against Camden in the next game saw Barking & Dagenham bounce back to the form that has seen them race to the top of their London Girls’ League group. However, short halves limited the time available to break the deadlock – a situation repeated in the next game against Brent.

Draws elsewhere in the group meant that maximum points in the final game would still see Barking & Dagenham progress – the only team to pick up any wins was Croydon so a semi-final spot was still very much up for grabs.

That meant Barking & Dagenham reshaped their line-up to go all out for a goal – a move that very nearly paid off.

Captain Millie Blythe enjoyed the acres of space available down the Woking wing to get to the byline countless times and pick out crosses or get efforts in on goal. A trio of smart saves from the opposing keeper denied her whilst Mariam Daisy Ngobo, Nour Khalfaoui and Gabriella Gomes all had openings as Barking & Dagenham laid seige to the Woking goal.

No Way Through

At the other end, Kaydee Bhavani was virtually a spectator as the ball rarely ventured into the Barking & Dagenham half as the district girls did all that they could – except eventually find a way through.

Another stalemate meant elimination by a single point however Barking & Dagenham showed what they are capable of in a brace of friendly victories. Consolation wins were secured against Islington (2-1) and Camden B (5-0) with Blythe (2), Ngobo, Gomes, Makayla Smith, Pahris Cotterell and Hannah Embery all chipping in with goals.

Barking & Dagenham: Babatunde (Richard Alibon); Embery, Blythe, (Valence); Gomes (St Joseph’s Dagenham); Ngobo Azeez (Godwin); Bhavani (Parsloes); Cotterell (Manor Longbridge); Khalfaoui (Hunters Hall); Smith (Henry Green)