Barking & Dagenham 2-0 South London

AFTER THE EUPHORIA OF the previous week’s Southern Counties Cup final win, it was time on Saturday for Barking & Dagenham to quickly refocus and direction attention towards resuming their London Girls’ League campaign. South London were the visitors, putting up a defiant and determined resistance to the BAD Girls’ juggernaut, which had seen the hosts rack up thirteen wins and a draw since exiting the English Schools’ FA National Cup to Woking way back in November.

South London’s direct and physical style, with a little bit of guile and craft thrown in for good measure, proved a stern test and the away side were quickly into their stride. Both keepers – Honey Thomas and Kornelija Klimaviciute – had to be on their toes throughout, sweeping up loose balls and dealing with several mid-range efforts that were struck at goal from the edge of the box.

Meanwhile, the hosts threatened, as usual, through the goal-scoring prowess and relentless threat of Aysia Matabaro up top.

Chance

Matabaro’s first sighter came in the fifth minute, before Chi-Chi Musa-Onyeka’s long throw picked out the leading scorer on the left-hand flank. Matabaro’s subsequent cross into the area looked to have struck a hand before making its way to Zoe Freeman in acres of space at the back post. Freeman had time to take a touch and set herself, but the resulting shot was directed straight to the keeper for the game’s first real clear-cut chance.

Matabaro found the keeper once more in the thirteenth minute, before giving her side the lead shortly after.

This time, Musa-Onyeka won possession on the left of defence, keeping her cool to pick out St Peter’s classmate Lara Sousa Franco in midfield. Poise on the ball then saw Sousa Franco pick out Freeman with a neat pass in behind the South London backline. Freeman then intelligently squared to Matabaro, who confidently did the rest, scooting past two defenders before smashing home.

Three minutes later, there was a golden opportunity to make it two when Musa-Onyeka’s free-kick dropped behind the visitors’ rear-guard to put Matabaro through one-on-one. The chance passed by when the finish fell wide of the upright but Barking & Dagenham were now beginning to exercise a degree of control.

Stretch

Another Musa-Onyeka free-kick from thirty-five yards drew a save on the half-volley for the South London keeper, with Matabaro playing in Elizabeth Dimitrova for a low drive on the stretch, five minutes from half-time.

Seven minutes after the restart, Erin Taylor almost repeated her cup final assist, centring to Matabaro for a thirty-yard screamer that was well saved.

And Freeman picked out Dimitrova moments later, only for the tricky winger to fire at the keeper from a tight angle.

Not to be outdone though, Dimitrova made amends with nine minutes left on the clock, slipping a sweet ball into Matabaro’s path. From the moment the deadly striker picked up possession, there was only ever going to be one outcome, with the Roding forward arrowing her shot into the bottom corner to double the lead.

There could have been another, with Matabaro denied her hat-trick by the post in the final minute, and Sousa Franco firing the rebound at the keeper from the edge of the area.

We Wait

But once the second went in, the game was all but done. Kadie Gibbs, Amaya Amaning and captain Musa-Onyeka barely allowed the opposition a touch in the box all game. And with Mia Green and Hazel Walker shielding expertly in front, there was no way through for a spirited and committed South London outfit.

Results elsewhere will now determine whether or not Barking & Dagenham will finish in an unattainable position in top spot. So far, they are guaranteed a top three finish. However, a draw between St Albans and Lewisham could hand the BAD Girls the title with a game to spare.

Now, we wait.

Barking & Dagenham: Amaya Amaning (Warren), Charlotte Bryant (Roding), Zoe Freeman (Rush Green), Kadie Gibbs (James Cambell), Mia Green (Southwood), Hazel Walker (Parsloes), Chioma Musa-Onyeka (St Peter’s), Lara Sousa Franco (St Peter’s), Honey Thomas (James Cambell), Kornelija Klimaviciute (Parsloes), Aysia Matabaro (Roding), Erin Taylor (Leys), Elizabeth Dimitrova (James Cambell)