Chelmsford & Mid Essex 5 – 0 Barking & Dagenham
BARKING & DAGENHAM U11S FINISHED their Essex Finch campaign with a loss away to title-challengers Chelmsford on Saturday. Despite competing for large periods of the game, the home side’s superior finishing saw them keep their title hopes alive.
Barking & Dagenham actually shaded the opening exchanges with Joe Martin’s free kick causing confusion in the Chelmsford penalty area. Unfortunately for the visitors, no one could apply the finishing touch. Amin Karim then went close with a volley after Favour Fawunmi had beat his marker and hung an inviting cross to the back post. However, Karim was unable to keep his effort down.
The home side, with ten academy players in their ranks, began to exert some pressure and took the lead midway through the half. A long ball from Ben Heath caught the Barking & Dagenham defence napping and Max Toolan coolly slotted the ball home to put his side ahead.
Hesitant
The home side soon doubled their lead with another goal that Barking & Dagenham could have prevented. This time Toolan was the provider and Heath capitalised on some hesitant defending to poke the ball home past Tyler Rice.
Barking & Dagenham almost responded immediately but Kien Connelly’s low drive was inches wide. A flowing move from the visitors, right on the stroke of halftime, almost saw them get back into the game but Mason Stanton’s effort was well saved by Sam Hawkins in the home goal.
Barking & Dagenham started the second half knowing they needed to score next but they were quickly undone by the home side’s first attack of the half. Tom Arnold’s corner was glanced home by Alex Morriett and Barking & Dagenham had a mountain to climb.
Rice was called into action the thwart Ollie Eagle’s fierce drive before Heath drew an even better save from the Southwood stopper as the home side looked to kill the game off.
Karim almost grabbed a goal back for Barking & Dagenham after he meet a Fawunmi corner but his header was cleared off the line.
Connelly then went close with another long range effort before Chelmsford made sure of the points with a fourth. Tommy Taylor and Arnold combined well in the centre of the park before setting up Toolan, who gave Rice no chance with a neat finish into the bottom corner.
Tackles
Knowing that the title could well be decided on goal difference, Chelmsford continued to attack and only some inspired defending by Qudus Onajobi prevented them from adding to their tally. Twice the Becontree defender produced brilliantly timed tackles to deny Heath and Arnold.
Barking & Dagenham battled on gamely to the end but did concede a fifth as the game entered the last stages. Arnold capped an impressive performance with a rasping free kick that gave Rice no chance.
The scoreline was harsh on Barking & Dagenham who played their part in a good game of District football. However, the home side’s ruthlessness in front of goal saw them run our comfortable winners. Barking & Dagenham will now look to break their losing run when they welcome Haringey to M&B for a Lester Finch Trophy tie.
Barking & Dagenham: Rice (Southwood) Onajobi (Becontree), Karim (Parsloes), Gasperavicius (W Bellamy), Williams, Connolly, Martin, Rich (Valence), Fawunmi Hunters Hall), Stanton (Eastbury)