Barking & Dagenham 1-1 Wycombe AET (B&D win 3-1 on pens)

BARKING & DAGENHAM U11S SQUEEZED through to the second round of the Southern Counties Cup with a dramatic penalty shootout win over Wycombe. Titas Sveikauskas’ late penalty had sent the tie into extra time and Barking & Dagenham held their nerve in the shootout.

Neither side started well as both struggled to come to terms with a boggy pitch and sub-zero temperatures. There was little by way of goal mouth action in the opening stages although the home side nearly took the lead with their first real attack. The lively Rees Joshua-McCarthy was set free and he went around Owen Duggan but Joseph Atoki was well placed to clear the danger.

Barking & Dagenham slowly grew into the game and Harry Brown saw his free kick tipped on to the bar by the finger-tips of Tom Akehurst in the Wycombe goal before Alex Towse saw his effort deflected wide.

Stout

As the half went on, Barking & Dagenham began to dictate proceedings but weren’t able to find a way past some stout defending by the home side. The second half saw Barking & Dagenham start brightest and they looked the most likely to score. Brown went close with a fierce drive and Basilio Rieno-Socoliche drew a smart save from Akehurst.

By now, Barking & Dagenham were camped in the Wycombe half but weren’t able to find a way through. Sveikauskas almost broke the deadlocck but his near post flick from Alex Young’s corner was cleared of the line.

With just four minutes left, Barking spurned a glorious chance to go in front.  Sveikauskas got free down the right hand side and his cross fell invitingly in to the path of David Osei-Kaffour at the back post. However, despite making a good connection, the ball went agonisingly wide of the upright.

Wycombe then went up the other end and took the lead. A soft free kick was awarded on the left hand touchline and a quality delivery from Sam Pullan evaded everyone to nestle in the bottom corner.

The home side immediately sent on reinforcements at the back knowing they were minutes from a victory but it was an inspired change by Barking & Dagenham that saw them equalize. Junior Ngala was sent up front and instantly he won a penalty after his swashbuckling run in to the area drew a foul from Pullen and the referee had no hesitation in pointing to the spot. Despite being under enormous pressure, Sveikauskas coolly stroked the ball home to pull his side level.

Rocking

Wycombe were by now rocking and Brown almost won the tie with the last action of the game. A long, high ball wasn’t dealt with by the home defence and the ball fell to Brown on the edge of the area but, with the goal at his mercy, the ball went inches wide and the game went into extra time.

Extra time saw very little goalmouth action although Ethan Wenyato saw a cross-cum-shot flash across the face of the goal and Osei-Kaffour had a well struck shot pushed around the post by Akehurst.

Despite some late pressure from Barking & Dagenham, the game would have to be settled by the dreaded penalty shootout. Both sides missed their first spot kicks and scored their next attempts to leave the shootout delicately poised.

Duggan then saved well from Joe Leek to give Barking the advantage; an advantage that they held on to. And when Will Conroy fired his effort wide, Barking were through to the next round where they will meet the winners of Thurrock vs Gravesham.

Barking & Dagenham: A Young, A Towse, J Atoki, O Duggan, E Wenayeto, J. Modza-Smith, C Gavin, H Brown, D Osei-Kuffour, J Ngala, B Rieno-Socoliche, T Sveikauskas