Thames View 3-2 Dorothy Barley

Thames View

TWO PENALTIES IN the dying embers of this season’s Barking & Dagenham Post Trophy final proved decisive in determining the title’s home for the next twelve months. With just eight minutes remaining, the first was kept out by the feet of Thames View keeper Ajim Halino whilst the second, deep into injury time, was emphatically dispatched by ice-cool team-mate Brigen Markaj to capture the tournament once again for the Bastable Avenue based side. 

In symmetry with Markaj’s last minute winner, Thames View got off to the best possible start when striker Ben Bacon netted inside the opening sixty seconds. His left foot effort from outside the penalty area was too hot to handle for keeper Bailey Cass, who had to sit out the rest of the game after suffering an injury in his attempt to keep the ball out.

Parity

Undetered, Dorothy Barley sprang back into life, hitting back just eight minutes later. Lamina Feika broke clear, firing in an initial effort from range. Halino blocked that first attempt but Thames View struggled to clear their lines – Feika hooking home at the second time of asking to restore parity.

As the half wore on, both goalscorers had further efforts however Bacon was denied by stand-in Barley gloveman Jack Davis and Feika fired wide moments after his equaliser.

For the next twenty-five minutes, the game lulled along, with neither side creating any chances of note until a deflected effort from distance by Dorothy Barley striker Emmanuel Harvest gave his side a crucial lead.

Attrition

Again, the game settled down into a war of attrition: both sides unable to make inroads into enemy territory whilst standing firm at the back.

Then, with ten minutes remaining and Dorothy Barley on course for victory, the game sprang into life with chances falling at both ends.

First of all, Markaj’s whipped cross from the right wing picked out Ajay Barry unmarked inside the box, only for the Thames View skipper to blaze over when well placed.

Moments later, the same player’s shot from distance deceived Davis in the flight, the keeper adjusting to block with his feet only for Joshua Green to steel in and snatch a deserved equaliser.

Two minutes then elapsed before a controversial incident in the Thames View area led to the award of the afternoon’s first spot-kick. Harvest stepped up confidently but Halino stood firm, deflecting the attempt back into play for his alert defenders to mop up.

Glory

Inspired by his moment of glory, Halino then pulled of further saves from Jon Silva and district frontman Nelson Ajayi to deny Dorothy Barley a way back into the game.

And then, with seconds remaining, Green again found himself well placed in opposition territory. The Thames View striker bore down on goal only for a heavy challenge to deny him at the last moment.

Referee Duggins blew up for a clear foul before Markaj kept his composure to smash the ball straight down the middle and sent his team into raptures, knowing the sliverware was theirs for the first time since 2009.