South London 0-0 Barking & Dagenham
BARKING & DAGENHAM ENDED A highly successful season with a third successive London Girls’ League draw in blistering conditions at Dulwich Sports Ground. Despite dominating for large periods of the game, the seering heat eventually told and the visitors hung on to claim a final point of the campaign.
Barking & Dagenham came steaming out of the traps, overwhelming their opponents in the opening ten minutes.
First, Layla Duffield’s attacking throw-in found Nour Khalfaoui in the box who controlled well before swivelling a shot just wide.
Nestled
Then, two minutes later, Khalfaoui’s interplay with Pahris Cotterell opened up the South London rearguard. As the skipper advanced on goal, her well-struck finish cannoned back off the post with the keeper well beaten. The loose ball shot across the goalmouth to Duffield but the Godwin winger’s effort nestled in the side netting.
Soon after, Khalfaoui and Cotterell were at it again in a move that began inside their own half but once more the final effort on goal missed its target.
And in the ninth minute, Khalfaoui saw two chances from close range charged down before the onrushing keeper, with a third attempt blocked by a defender in the box.
After the initial charge, South London regrouped and organised themselves to counteract the threat of Cotterell and Duffield on the flanks. This limited the visitors’ terroritorial advances until, on the stroke of half-time, Tina Mutuale’s free-kick set Cotterell free behind South London’s defence. A goal looked inevitable however the advancing keeper did just enough to put Cotterell off and deny her once again.
Dangerous
At half-time, South London made a raft of changes, replacing every player from their starting line-up. This did nothing to put the visitors off at first as Grace Young volleyed over following Khalfaoui’s dangerous cross.
However, as the half wore on, the fresh legs of South London gave the hosts parity with a wilting Barking & Dagenham.
Aaliyah Young and Mutuale were both vital in limiting the home side’s progress with several blocks, clearances and tackles – but it was keeper Jessica Nwosu who was the hero in the closing stages, making a stunning diving stop to ensure an all-important clean sheet.
Cotterell’s drive from distance, along with Emily Brown’s free-kick, gave Barking & Dagenham brief hope however both sides had to be content with a share of the spoils in a fitting end to their respective seasons.
Barking & Dagenham: A Young (James Cambell); L Duffield, E Brown (Godwin); T Mutuale, J Nwosu (Henry Green); P Cotterell (Manor Longbridge); N Khalfaoui, G Young (Hunters Hall)