Barking & Dagenham 2-3 Wokingham

TABLE TOPPERS WOKINGHAM travelled to The Bobby Moore Sports Hub as hot favourites with a hundred percent record in the London Girls’ League and an impressive record that has seen them crowned as Surrey League and Swansea Festival winners, as well as runners-up in the Southern Counties League, Southern Counties Cup and Southern Counties Trophy. Contrast that with Barking & Dagenham’s patchy results of late – with four league defeats since the turn of the year – and the outcome of the final district home game of the season seemed inevitable.

So, when the visitors took a 2-0 lead after just eleven minutes, it looked like another routine win was on the cards, leaving them just one victory short of a maiden LGL title.

Despite the results though, Barking & Dagenham’s performances since Easter have been highly impressive and this proved the case once again with the holders refusing to yield an inch and battling their way back into contention.

Blocked

They had begun brightly, forcing a succession of early corners that presented blocked, scrambled efforts inside the six-yard box for Keira Ly, Zainab Touray and Malaika Uwandji.

Therefore, when the lead came via a superb 20 yard top-corner, curling effort from the edge of the box in the eighth minute, it was somewhat against the run of play.

And when the advantage was doubled three minutes later, despite Emily Peka’s fine double save, Barking & Dagenham’s confidence remained firmly intact.

So, it was not entirely surprising when, two minutes later, they were back in contention.

Abbie Blewitt combined superbly with Uwandji for the latter to sprint clear and pierce the visitors’ defences with a typically dynamic run down the right flank. The Roding winger then switched play superbly with a pinpoint cross that picked out opposite number Touray cutting in from the left.

What came next was simply magical as Touray’s impeccable first touch did all the work for her, opening up the space to draw the keeper and finish a flowing move with an emphatic finish.

Swagger

The verve and swagger of the move spoke volumes for the way Barking & Dagenham were playing and, as the half wore on, it was clear who wanted it more.

The chances continued to come as captain Jona Islami’s long through ball sent Uwandji off and running once again, powering clear of the final defender before drilling a fierce shot into the side netting.

Then came the game’s flashpoint.

It was Uwandji again, who in combination with Amelia Hussain tucked in behind, was dominating home territory along the touchline.

With Wokingham launching an exploratory foray just inside halfway, the hosts’ leading scorer used her body superbly to step across and seize possession, shrugging off the challenge, leaving her opponent wrong-footed and skipping clear.

A through ball in behind led to Gilda Hassani racing past the Wokingham backline, bearing down on goal. A heavy challenge from behind then sent her sprawling in the box and the referee was left with no alternative but to point to the spot.

After a lengthy delay caused by opposition protests, Blewitt kept a clear mind to step up and rifle an unstoppable strike into the top corner and the scores were level.

Stubborn

The visitors were now rattled; any suggestion of a victory parade in the Dagenham sunshine was blown apart with the home side’s stubborn comeback not part of the script.

However, a rare slip in intensity from Barking & Dagenham at the start of the second half saw them slip behind once again. Losing shape and composure, a loose clearance inside the box was punished and the away side’s lead was restored.

As the half wore on though, Wokingham were never able to pull away and a few quick changes to the Barking & Dagenham formation plugged the gaps and forced them back into the game.

The lively Paloma Correia was felled thirty yards out when sprinting clear, with Blewitt’s subsequent free-kick drawing a fine save as the keeper held on well to the lofted attempt.

Correia’s buzzing of the Wokingham rearguard saw her steal possession and burst down the right before passing the baton to Ly. Her centre flashed tantalisingly across goal, cut out at the last second by the keeper with an unmarked Touray waiting just behind.

And Correia was brought down once more with ten minutes remaining via a cynical tug back. This time, Uwandji’s dipping set piece flashed just wide of the upright.

At the other end, Peka showed immaculate handling with the backline of Hussain, Islami and Maria Matteus imperious in front of her.

Chances

But as the seconds ticked by, so did Barking & Dagenham’s chances: Uwandji chanced her arm from twenty yards out; Hussain volleyed into the keeper’s arms from distance; and a late Blewitt corner bobbled across the box from the last action of the half, crying out for a missing touch to convert.

Defeat for either side would have been harsh, with both teams putting on a terrific late season display that showcased the best of district football.

But it was especially disappointing for the reigning champions, who had stood firm in the face of stiff opposition and stared it squarely in the eye without blinking.

Victory for the Berkshire side sets up a mouth-watering final day showdown with Havering to decide who will be this year’s champions. If it proves to be Wokingham, after their trip to East London this week, they will know they will have worked hard for their title and been tested to the end.

Barking & Dagenham: Emily Peka (Valence); Jona Islami (Roding); Gilda Hasani (Northbury); Abbie Blewitt (Hunters Hall); Grace Attwood-Adams (The Leys); Malaika Uwandji (Roding); Amelia Hussain (Richard Alibon); Zainab Touray (Northbury); Maria Mateus (George Carey); Keira Ly (Manor); Comfort Mazel (Godwin)