JRCS Y7/8 0-8 Barking & Dagenham
WITH SIX PLAYERS making their debuts, Barking & Dagenham girls’ U11s warmed up for the coming season in impressive style during their annual curtain-raiser against Jo Richardson. A hat-trick from Ellie Mai Morgan; braces from Emily Brown and Holly Anderson; and a late goal from Ianna Msekwa capped off an exciting performance that bodes well for the campaign to come.
Just thirteen seconds had elapsed when Morgan first stung the palms of the home keeper before firing over from the rebound.
From the resultant goal-kick, skipper Brown intercepted the ball in midfield, striding forward confidently to slot into the bottom corner from the edge of the box to open the scoring for the afternoon.
Playmaker
And in the fifth minute, the Godwin playmaker burst forward once again in identical fashion. This time though, Brown’s shot was deflected in off the shins of Morgan who gleefully claimed her first district goal.
Grace Young’s inswinging corner brought the third, causing panic in the JRCS rearguard. Anderson’s initial attempt to convert the loose ball was blocked but Morgan poked home for her second of the game.
Winger Kayla Grain hit the post just before half time – with Barking & Dagenham finding the woodwork on five other occasions; but it was Brown who stretched the lead to four after a powerful run into the box, capped off with a swept finish into the opposite corner.
The bulk of the play continued to centre around the home goal as the visitors pressed for more.
On a rare Jo Richardson foray forward, Maria Omotayo was called upon in the Barking & Dagenham goal, tidying up a through ball on the edge of her box. With the home midfield drawn out of their defensive shape, a quick throw out to Young in space was then played inside to MIquellah Meade who in turn picked out Anderson for her maiden strike.
Emphatic
Meade turned provider once again seconds later, threading a pass through to Henry Green colleague Morgan who finished emphatically to make it six.
The same pair combined in similar fashion moments later, only for the home keeper to block bravely from Morgan’s shot. However Anderson was on-hand to convert the loose ball, doubling her personal tally in the process.
Meade’s creativity in midfield continued to cause problems as she switched from the centre to the right wing, this time crossing low and hard across goal for Msekwa, up from the back, who wrapped up the scoring with a well-taken first time effort.
Barking & Dagenham: Holly Anderson (Grafton); 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)