Barking & Dagenham 2-2 Gravesham

BARKING & DAGENHAM BATTLED back from 2-0 down to share the spoils with Gravesham in their latest match. Tolu Fabamifobee’s brace ensured the side didn’t lose a game that they totally dominated. 

The home side were quick out of the traps and twice within the first minute Riley Setters got in behind the visitor’s backline, but his cross narrowly evaded the onrushing attackers.

Lewis Collingridge then had a glimpse of goal after Enzo Pougoue-Ngalamou’s clever pass. However, the ball stuck in the pitch and the Max Waller in the away goal was able to keep the effort out.

The Gravesham keeper was then called into action moments later when  Fabamifobee tried his luck from the edge of the area but his stinging drive was palmed away by the diving Waller.

Crossbar

With their next attack, the home side went even closer to grabbing a deserved lead. Aaron Balogun skipped past three challenges before arrowing a drive goalward. The effort had Waller beaten but the ball crashed against the crossbar, before being cleared. From the resulting corner, Fabamifobee rose highest but his header flew narrowly wide.

The home team continued to dominate and only some brave keeping from Waller denied Fabamifobee. A flowing, one-touch move released Fabamifobee but Waller bravely dived at his feet to thwart the George Carey striker.

Fabamifobee then almost provider. His powerful run and cross picked out Reece Jeffs but his header was cleared off the line by Asif Paiyra.

Gravesham had barely got out of their own half but went ahead with their first foray forward. A long, hopeful ball wasn’t dealt with by the home side and Caleb Harkness nipped in to push the ball past Rio Inayat and rolled the ball into the open goal.

Things got even worse for the home side when Gravesham doubled their advantage with their next attack. A cross from Ibrahim Loku wasn’t cleared and Harkness was on hand to poke the ball home from close range.

No Mistake

The home side now had a mountain to climb but reduced the deficit soon after. Balogun skipped past two challenges before finding Fabamifobee, who made no mistake from twelve yards for his third of the season.

Fabamifobee was then felled just outside the box. He picked himself up to take the free kick but his fierce drive was superbly pushed around the post by Waller.

The chances kept on coming and Koabi Efobi’s low cross was met by the onrushing Fabamifobee but Waller was once again equal to his effort.

Barking & Dagenham ended the half with more chances but were unable to level things up. Firstly, Fabamifobee fired wide after some more good work from Efobi before the same two players combined, only for Fabamifobee’s snapshot to fly narrowly wide, with Waller rooted to the spot.

The second half started in the same manner as the first and Balogun had an early effort cleared off the line by Malky Murray from a Frankie Ismail corner.

Almost

Setters then almost grabbed his first District goal when he got his head onto the end of an inviting cross from Colleridge but his effort was saved by Waller.

The one-way traffic continued and Balogun fired into the side netting after an Ismail corner had caused panic in the visitor’s penalty area.

Ismail then fired over from close range as Barking & Dagenham continued to search for an equaliser. The same player’s free kick was deflected goalward by Fabamifobee but Waller somehow managed to fling out a foot to keep his side ahead. Then Ismail’s cross was fired wide by Jeffs before he drew another smart save from Waller when he latched onto a Setter’s cross.

Waller was then called in action to thwart Fabamifobee after another good move split open the Kent based side’s defence. Setters, Pougoue-Ngalamou and Jeffs worked the ball down the left, setting up Fabamifobee. His low drive looked destined for the bottom corner, only for Waller to somehow keep the ball out with his left foot.

Wide

The home side continued to press forward and Fabamifobee saw his glancing header go inches wide from another Ismail cross.

With their next attack, Balogun shot wide when well placed before Imrane Aroui tried his luck from twenty yards.

With time running out, Fabamifobee was released by Aroui. The George Carey striker raced clear of his marker, but his shot struck the post with Waller well beaten.

But, just as it looked as if it wasn’t to be Barking & Dagenham’s day, the home side finally equalised. Aroui found Fabamifobee on the edge of the area and the striker made no mistake from twelve yards.

Barking & Dagenham sensed there was still time to grab a winner and continued to attack the Gravesham goal but it wasn’t to be and they had to settle for a share of the spoils despite having created enough chances to win three games let alone one!

Barking & Dagenham: R Inayat, K Efobi (Valence), R Jeffs (Hunters Hall), R Setters (Godwin), L Collingridge (Richard Alibon), T Fabamifobee, (George Carey), O Bourne, E Pougoue-Ngalamou (The Leys), A Balogun (Grafton), I Aroui (Thames View), F Ismail (Northbury)