BARKING & DAGENHAM’S UNBEATEN run extended to twenty-two matches as they returned from the Woking Festival with three wins and three draws. The early cobwebs were swept away with some excellent performances in the second half of the tournament which will stand them in good stead as they prepare for the regional finals of the national ESFA/Premier League 9-a-sides next week.
Barking & Dagenham began with a steady – if unspectacular – display against Woking B. Kayla Grain’s volley was well held by the opposition keeper in the opening stages and Grain and Emily Brown both had sighters from range as the match progressed.
Stooping
Holly Anderson had a brace of chances to open the scoring but it was the diminutive figure of Miquellah Meade who achieved the breakthrough, stooping low to head home Brown’s dangerous corner three minutes from time.
Next up were Watford – and Barking & Dagenham were given the ideal fillip as Ellie Mai Morgan put her side ahead in the opening exchanges. Elishah Mintah Adarkwah won position at the back and spread play wide to Meade. The Henry Green winger’s seering pace saw her slice through the Watford midfield before slipping the ball through to Anderson inside the penalty area. Her intial shot was saved at close quarters but Morgan swooped to snaffle up the loose ball and put her side ahead.
Meade and and Anderson both had chances to extend the lead but Barking & Dagenham’s finisihing was far from its best as they struggled to put away their opponents once and for all.
In fact, they were extremely grateful to the strong left hand of keeper Maria Omotayo who had to be alert to palm wide a late Watford effort from range.
A lacklustre display followed against Woking’s U10s side that was only lit up by Grace Young’s marauding run down the left flank that resulted in Morgan’s close range finish being saved by the Woking keeper at the last gasp.
Impetus
Determined to inject some impetus into their performances, Barking & Dagenham stepped up the intensity against a spirited Gloucester side. However, they were ultimately denied by a combination of wasteful finishing and great goalkeeping – with Brown twice denied certain goals thanks to a brace of sensational stops.
Despite the game resulting in a stalemate, there was fresh confidence and a crispness about the district side’s step as they entered their penultimate match against buoyant Bexley – who came into the clash on the front foot following a series of comfortable wins.
It was Barking & Dagenham though who were all over their opponents like a cheap tattoo, pinning them back in their own half for much of the game.
First, Brown’s free-kick signalled her side’s intention before the captain wrestled control of midfield, dictating play and artfully creating a handful of chances for her teammates. Meade, Grain and Anderson all had opportunities to break the deadlock from Brown’s throughballs, with Grain and Meade having further efforts saved following lively individual runs down the flanks.
Flowing
Abigail Asare, Grain and Young then combined in a flowing move from back to front that would have produced the goal of the day had Brown’s final touch not seen the ball screw wide at the final moment.
As the tournament drew to a close with the final match against South London, Barking & Dagenham had now found their rhythm and cruised to a comfortable win.
The lead was taken when Anderson pressurised the opposition rearguard into an error, allowing Brown to slot home her twenty-fourth district goal. And the roles were reversed minutes later when Brown burst into the box before teeing up Anderson for her eighth of the campaign.
It was a classy display from the district girls as they progressed through their second tournament in recent weeks without conceding a goal. If they can repeat the same feat next time round, the national finals will await.
Barking & Dagenham: Emily Brown (Godwin); Kayla Grain (Richard Alibon); Miquelleh Meade (Henry Green); Ellie Mai Morgan (Henry Green); Ianna Msekwa (George Carey); Maria Omotayo (Roding); Grace Young (Hunters Hall); Abigail Asare (Henry Green); Elishah Mintah Adarkwah (George Carey)