BOTH TEAMS HAD THEIR chances in the Southern Counties Cup semi-final between Barking & Dagenham and Wokingham – but it was the Berkshire side who took them as the ESFA Cup runners-up went on to add another trophy to their impressive haul of silverware in 2025 with victory over Dacorum in the final. There was a bitter-sweet consolation for the BAD Girls who overcame old friends Gloucester in the 3^rd/4^th place play-off and they can take heart from finishing in the top three in every competition they have entered this season.

With a touch more sharpness and accuracy, things could have been very different.

Punished

In the opening stages, Barking & Dagenham exploited their opponents flanks with Aaliyah Felix and Abbie Blewitt combining to set Jo Mecvari in behind on the left, her low drive picking out the keeper, centrally placed.

And a minute later, Wokingham were ahead when an innocuous ball into the box wasn’t dealt with and Barking & Dagenham were duly punished.

The lead was doubled shortly afterwards through an excellent solo effort, the opposition forward evading a host of challenges before cutting in and firing home from the edge of the box.

Mecvari had a further attempt snaffled out by the well-positioned keeper before her in-swinging corner was headed wide by the towering Simonette Johnson.

After the break, Paloma Correia immediately caused problems down the right, drawing a low save to deny a consolation.

Crucial

Meanwhile, at the other end, Lily Imititikua weighed in with two crucial challenges to keep her side within touching distance.

Midway through the half, Barking & Dagenham switched to three up front without ever really looking fully convinced that they could get back into the game.

Johnson blasted over from Correia’s centre before Blewitt’s effort from twenty yards fell wide of the post.

And the best chance came when Imititikua’s long-throw caused chaos, bouncing into Ezea’s path six yards out. The attempt ended up in the stands however and slack marking on a late free-kick led to Wokingham adding a third to advance comfortably into the final.

There was still pride at stake though in the play-off with Gloucester whose own ambitions for the title were cruelly crushed via a dramatic penalty shootout with Dacorum.

Two minutes in and Blewitt set Mecvari running down the right. A superb cross whizzed across goal, with Johnson agonisingly close to connecting before Lily-Mae Fisher reached the ball but couldn’t divert it home at the back post.

Dangerous

Pressure continued as Barking & Dagenham sought an opener, with Mecvari’s set-pieces always looking dangerous.

The breakthrough came five minutes into the second half when another Imititikua long-throw penetrated the six-yard box where Ezea showed strength and determination to hold off her marker and power the ball high into the net from close range.

Barking & Dagenham pressed for more – with Blewitt’s dancing feet bamboozling the Gloucester midfield – but the early start took its toll on the leggy BAD Girls who never really got into their usual menacing rhythm at any point although they showed in flashes the attacking potential contained within their ranks.

A third-place finish is more than respectable for a Barking & Dagenham side who have already won the Essex Schools’ FA Girls’ League and ended as runners-up in the Southern Counties League Cup.

And they will be hoping for more silverware from their three remaining matches, with the opportunity to gain revenge on the 7^th June when Wokingham visit Parsloes Park in what could be a London Girls’ League decider if results beforehand go to form.

There is also the small matter of the Stuart Feakins Memorial Trophy final against Hackney and a crucial league encounter with neighbours Havering to come next.

There are just three district Saturdays left. Whatever happens, it has been a great campaign. But with three wins, it could be one of the greatest.

Barking & Dagenham: Grace Attwood-Adams (The Leys), Jo Mecvari (Southwood), Paloma Correia (George Carey), Theresa Ezea (St Peter’s), Aaliyah Felix (Goresbrook), Lily-Mae Fisher (Roding), Bella Hines (Richard Alibon), Lily Imititikua (St Peter’s), Simonette Johnson (St Peter’s), Abbie Blewitt (Hunters Hall), Bella Yorke (Northbury), Whitney James (Rose Lane)