Barking & Dagenham – WINNERS!
AFTER SIX YEARS without any major honours, Barking & Dagenham girls U11s cantered to victory in the Essex Schools’ F.A. county finals, finishing top of the table without conceding a goal. Four points against holders Thurrock and six against Chelmsford & Mid-Essex put the district side in an unassailable position and guaranteed them the title for the first time.
The morning began with a tense encounter against Thurrock, with neither side able to break down the others’ tough resistance. Grace Young’s cross brought half-chances for Emily Brown and Holly Anderson, but neither were able to get a shot away of note.
The game looked to be drifting towards a stalemate until captain Brown found space twenty yards out, strode forward and buried a right foot finish into the bottom corner to claim the win.
Control
Buoyed by their success, the Southern Counties Cup finalists went into their next match versus Chelmsford in total control. Brown had a couple of early sighters whilst Miquellah Meade’s effort from close range was deflected out for a corner.
From Brown’s subsequent set-piece, Kayla Grain pounced in the six-yard box, side-footing the ball on the half-volley into the vacant goal.
Grain almost turned provider moments later when her cross picked out Meade in the box; but the lead was eventually doubled when the waspish Meade caused havoc in the opposition backline and centred for Ellie Mai Morgan to sweep home her seventh of the season.
With Thurrock also beating Chelmsford 2-0 in the next game, Barking & Dagenham knew that a win over their original opponents in the penultimate game would guarantee them the trophy.
It was tight once again, with Meade having Barking & Dagenham’s best chance, hitting the post from an acute angle.
Crucial Moment
In the end, the destiny of the competition swung on a crucial moment midway through the match. Pushing up for a corner following Brown’s deflected effort on goal, Barking & Dagenham were left short of numbers at the back as Thurrock broke at pace. A series of desperate tackles failed to bear fruit as a seemingly unstoppable shot was fired into the bottom corner. Somehow Maria Omotayo in the Barking & Dagenham goal got down low and fast, thrusting a hand to the sure-fire attempt before gratefully snaffling the ball on the line.
Despite both sides’ best attempts, the tie remained 0-0.
Whilst the win never came, the point proved vital as Barking & Dagenham entered their final round-robin fixture against Chelmsford knowing that a draw would be good enough.
Beyond Doubt
It was never on the cards though – especially when Brown pinged one in from twenty-five yards before an opposition player had even had a touch.
Brown, Anderson, Meade and Morgan all had chances to put the tie beyond doubt however the contest was finally settled when Young headed home the skipper’s pinpoint corner to wrap up a highly entertaining day’s football.
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); Holly Anderson (Grafton); Abigail Asare (Henry Green)