BRAVE BARKING & DAGENHAM CAME within a whisker of celebrating victory in the South East finals of the English Schools’ FA/Premier League national tournament. Having drawn the final against Woking, the heartbreak of a penalty shootout defeat finally undid the district U11s girls who can nevertheless hold their heads high having reached the last two of the ten teams who entered the afternoon competition.

The day began with a sluggish start against South London. Despite being off the pace, Barking & Dagenham dominated territory and possession but lacked a cutting edge. The excellence of the opposition keeper and some resilient defending shut out Barking & Dagenham and a 0-0 draw set a worrying tone.

Stronger

However the girls bounced back with a routine 3-0 win over Woking C. A much stronger display saw the entirity of the game played in the opposition half with Ella Eskelson tapping home her ninth of the season when played in by skipper Pahris Cotterell. Nour Khalfaoui finished emphatically following Emily Brown’s through ball to double the advantage before the latter won possession inside the Woking area and added a neat finish to make it three.

With confidence duly restored, Barking & Dagenham lined up against Croydon knowing that the result was likely to determine who would top the group.

Khalfaoui was in inspired form from the outset, stinging the keeper’s palms with a firmly-hit drive inside thirty seconds to win the game’s first corner.

Moments later, it was Khalfaoui again who was the catalyst, this time popping up on the left flank before whipping a dangerous cross into the danger zone. Under pressure, the Croydon keeper only half dealt with the ball, allowing Cotterell to nip in for her twenty-fifth district goal – finally breaking the long-standing district scoring record.

Cotterell returned the favour two minutes later, centring to Khalfaoui who beat the last defender before blasting home.

Khalfaoui then added her second of the game before slack marking at the back gifted Croydon a late consolation against the run of play.

Knowing a draw against Barnet would be enough to win the group, Barking & Dagenham looked to be home and dry when Cotterell squared to on-fire Khalfaoui for her eleventh goal of the season.

Panic

However, Barnet tested Barking & Dagenham’s nerves on the counter attack as they refused to roll over. From an intercepted pass in midfield, Barnet broke to grab a deserved equaliser with five minutes remaining.

Panic spread throughout the Barking & Dagenham ranks as their calm, measured build-up play lacked its usual control. Under pressure from the opposition, Barking & Dagenham struggled to clear their lines and were duly punished when a poor clearance was seized upon for 2-1.

Despite the defeat, Barking & Dagenham’s superior goal difference over Croydon and South London meant the they still managed to finish ahead despite finishing on the same number of points.

In the final, with renewed resolve, Barking & Dagenham came out of the traps with purpose and endeavour, pinning hosts Woking back into their own half during the early stages. Brown and Cotterell exhanged a series of passes to cut into enemy territory and Khalfaoui offered an attacking threat down the left.

However, another poor clearance gifted Woking an opener and the pattern of the Barnet game looked like being repeated.

This time though, Barking & Dagenham had learnt from their experiences and, instead of bowing to the pressure, they came out fighting: Eskelson’s determined front-running brought a further chance for Khalfaoui before Cotterell and Brown saw efforts charged down.

The positive response to falling behind paid dividends four minutes before full-time when Khalfaoui’s superb corner picked out Cotterell in the box. The captain’s header from six yards was falling into the top corner before the a last-gasp clearance of the line fell back at Cotterell’s feet. Showing great composure, the leading scorer took a touch, took stock and rifled an unstoppable blast through the crowd which emphatically flew into the net and rebounded back through the penalty area in a show of staunch defiance.

Momentum

Woking were rattled – the momentum well and truly behind the visitors.

As extra-time began, Cotterell’s run and shot whistled past the post. Moments later, Khalfaoui burst down the left from the half-way line, riding a series of challenges before cutting back to Brown on the edge of the area. A touch and a well-struck drive followed, bringing the best out of the home keeper.

At the other end, Kaydee Bhavnani smothered Abi Fruellet’s effort from the edge of the area – the only scare during a prolonged spell of Barking & Dagenham dominance.

The decisive goal proved elusive though and penalties decided the respective fates of the teams. Woking converted their first two whilst Barking & Dagenham’s were both saved. Cotterell converted the third – but so did the Woking taker, giving her team an unassailable lead.

The outcome was tough on Barking & Dagenham who missed out on the national final in the cruelest of fashions. However, they came away with pride and distinction at the end of a terrific afternoon of football.

Barking & Dagenham: K Bhavnani (Parsloes); A Young (James Cambell); L Duffield, E Brown (Godwin); T Mutuale (Henry Green); P Cotterell (Manor Longbridge); E Eskelson, N Khalfaoui, G Young (Hunters Hall)