A FIFTH SOUTHERN COUNTIES Cup final in six years saw brave Barking & Dagenham come within a whisker of retaining their title as old foes Woking pinched a narrow 2-1 victory under glorious Spring skies at Oxford City F.C. Tolu Elufowoju notched up her quarter-century of goals for the season, however strikes in each half saw the Surrey side run out as eventual winners despite stiff resistance from their opponents.

Earlier in the day, Barking & Dagenham were posed the difficult task of overcoming St Albans in the semi-finals.

Full of confidence from their Southern Counties League Plate victory the previous week, Dominyka Petrauskaite ran riot down the right flank in the opening minutes, repeatedly skipping down the touchline before centring for a series of Elufowoju half-chances.

Ragged

But much of the play was ragged, with Barking & Dagenham lacking intensity and composure on the ball. And when a soft goal gifted St Albans a first-half lead, the district side’s hope of reaching the medal match looked in tatters.

Just before half-time though, a crucial interception from George Carey’s Chloe Ajewole saw a lengthy clearance drop behind the St Albans backline, where the hungry Elufowoju was on hand to sprint clear before slotting a fine finish into the bottom corner from the edge of the box.

Whilst the finish was sublime, the nature of its creation owed much to good fortune. And fortune certainly played its part in the winner.

It was Elufowoju again who provided the spark; her hopeful attempt from a narrow angle taking a sharp deflection before pitching at the feet of the opposition keeper and turning like an off-break, spinning off the surface to wrong-foot the fielder and dribble over the line.

Petrauskaite, Atene Skendelis and Amelia Hussain all came close with much better chances. But Elufowoju’s endeavour – and stroke of luck – proved decisive.

Crisp

Whereas the semi-final win was scruffy and lacking in focus, Barking & Dagenham began against Woking in a very different mood.

This time, the holders brought a snap to the tackle and a crispness to their passing that saw them press forward and begin as much the better side.

In the first minute, Jasmine Amrane slipped a delightful through-ball to Elufowoju, who nipped in behind to draw an early save.

And Petrauskaite and Skendelis also had first-half sighters that signalled their intent.

Most impressive, was the determination and organisation of the Barking & Dagenham backline, with Rusne Rimkeviciute and Laura Ameny on hand to deal with any threat down the flanks and Ajewole’s pace mopping up any Woking break down the middle.

Also on form was Francisca Arhin in the Barking & Dagenham goal, whose alertness and calm handling relieved the pressure which built and built as the first half wore on.

Tiring

Four minutes before the interval though, that pressure eventually told. Tiring legs were slow to close down on the edge of the box and a low finish gave Woking the lead with a bouncing effort from twenty yards out.

Half-time afforded Barking & Dagenham time to regroup however and they were straight out of the traps to get back on level terms within seconds of the restart.

Again, it was a long-ball that did the trick: this time it was Rimkeviciute on the left side of defence who curled an inch-perfect pass between the Woking back-line and keeper. With neither able to get there in time, Elufowoju pounced, holding off heavy pressure before producing another great finish from the edge of the area which skipped off the turf and bounced over the despairing keeper.

Game on!

Sasha Stoute and Skendelis were now dominant in the centre of the pitch, biting into their tackles and linking up well with Elufowoju, who remained a constant threat.

Stability

And Hussain and Alethea-Becky Adjoh-Davoh offered stability in wide positions which gave new problems for their opponents to solve.

No longer were Woking able to play their way through, instead relying on long balls and even longer throw-ins to try and force an opportunity.

Eventually, it paid off.

Barking & Dagenham didn’t quite drop back far enough for one of the aforementioned long-throws, which bounced through to the penalty area and in behind. An attempt to clear didn’t quite make it, and Woking stroked home to re-establish their lead.

In response, Barking & Dagenham chose to twist rather than stick, pushing Petrausakite and Jaydee Williams up front alongside Elufowoju in a bid to get back on level terms. And as the half wore on, Amrane and Stoute also pressed forward to try and force the necessary chance.

But Woking hung on, deserving their victory and claiming a fourth Southern Counties Cup title, their third against Barking & Dagenham who finished as valiant and proud runners-up.

Barking & Dagenham: Ajewole (George Carey), Skendelis (Godwin), Arhin (Northbury), Petrauskaite (Richard Alibon), Williams (Goresbrook), Stoute (Rush Green), Rimkeviciute (William Bellamy), Elufowoju (Rush Green), Hossein (Northbury), Ameny (Valence), Amrane (Gascoigne), Hussain (Richard Alibon), Adjoh-Davoh (George Carey)