Barking & Dagenham 7-0 Croydon
RAMPANT BARKING & DAGENHAM GIRLS delivered an outstanding second half performance to move top of the London Girls’ League table with a game to play. Lining up against a highly talented Croydon side who were unbeaten in the competition, the district U11s engineered a devastating twenty-minute period against the South East Cup runners-up that saw them rack up seven goals without reply.
The first half hinted at what was to come as Barking & Dagenham slowly began to press forward following a congested opening five minutes.
First, Kayla Grain’s free-kick from the halfway line picked out skipper Ellie Mai Morgan in the box who laid the ball off to Kaltrina Ibrahimi. The left winger’s effort was deflected for a corner which was narrowly headed over by the onrushing Miquellah Meade.
Control
Meade and Ibrahimi had further half-chances with Croydon restricted to just two efforts on goal from long range. The first was well parried by keeper Mei Wang, whilst the second cannoned off the post to give the home side a rare scare.
As the half wore on though, Ibrahimi, Grain and Meade began to control midfield and this provided the basis for a series of sorties into enemy territory. Meade and Ibrahimi again fashioned chances whilst the latter hit the far post with a wicked in-swinging corner from the right.
It remained goalless at half-time.
But not for long.
Two minutes into the second half, after Violette Sharpe and the nagging Meade had already seen efforts saved, Elishah Mintah-Adarkwah found Grain with a throw-in on the left. The Richard Alibon midfielder then cut inside and curled home a twenty yarder to give her side the lead.
It was 2-0 moments later when Ibrahimi found space in the box. Her first effort was bravely saved but Ibrahimi followed up with predatory instincts for her tenth of the season.
Momentum
With momentum well and truly behind the hosts, Meade popped up on the left to deliver a superb ball through to Grain on the edge of the box. Her first-time left foot effort was swept onto the post: however, Ibrahimi was on hand once more to snaffle up the rebound for 3-0.
Ibrahimi then came close to her hat-trick when a powerful effort was well-saved. Instead though, she turned provider, when yet another dangerous set-piece was converted by Ruby Abela’s mid-riff for her first district goal.
The fifth came via the same route as Ibrahimi’s corner was met by Lily-Mae Elsey in the box. Elsey’s initial attempt was blocked on the line, along with a second, but Grain claimed responsibility to poke in from close range.
The sixth was perhaps the pick of the bunch. Defending in her own penalty area, Meade won possession and charged forward, turning on the afterburners to outstrip three desperate challengers before centring for Elsey. The Northbury forward connected at the same time as Ibrahimi, finding the back of the net for an unassailable lead.
Meade’s effervescent performance warranted a goal of her own – and so it was as she danced through once more to hammer home the advantage.
With thirty-one games behind them so far this campaign, Barking & Dagenham face Wokingham at home next Saturday. A win will secure the London Girls’ League title for a second successive season. On this form, there is every chance they will do so.
Barking & Dagenham: Mei Wang (Henry Green); Elishah Mintah-Adarkwah (George Carey); Miquellah Meade (Henry Green); Kirsten McNaughton (George Carey); Ellie Mai Morgan (Henry Green); Violette Sharpe (Gascoigne); Kayla Grain (Richard Alibon); Lily-Mae Elsey (Northbury); Kaltrina Ibrahimi (William Ford); Ruby Abela (Dorothy Barley)