Barking & Dagenham 1-0 Woking
CAPTAIN FANTASTIC EMILY BROWN stole the headlines in the final game of the season, whipping a curled second half corner directly into the net to become the girls’ district team’s all-time leading scorer. More importantly though, the skipper’s twenty-eighth goal for her side ensured a top two finish for Barking & Dagenham in the London Girls’ League: and three points that could ultimately secure the title if results elsewhere go their way.
The win though was far from the result of one individual performance. A wonderful display of focus, commitment and determination from the whole squad saw Barking & Dagenham overcome the Surrey League and Southern Counties Cup winners for the first time in five matches, halting their opponent’s 100% league record.
The first opportunity of the game fell to Barking & Dagenham with barely thirty seconds on the clock. Brown was bundled over twenty yards out before picking herself up to take the ensuing freekick. Woking skipper Abi Fruellet headed off the line to deny her opposite number, before a prolonged period of pressure inside the Barking & Dagenham half began.
Examination
Woking’s possession game saw them prod and poke for weaknesses in the home defence as they were given a thorough examination throughout the first half. Elin Roberts and Gracie Price sliced down both flanks, switching the play through Fruellet at will and causing Barking & Dagenham to alter their personnel after just ten minutes, introducing the effervescent Miquellah Meade to combat the threat.
Despite the pressure though, the hosts stood firm – with Abigail Asare and Ianna Msewka defending the edge of their penalty area with composed calm. Restricting the visitors to shots from distance, or hopeful efforts from narrow angles, Barking & Dagenham’s first-choice back-line were both available to line up against Woking for the first time this campaign – and quickly showed why the hosts have not conceded a goal at Barking Abbey all season.
Anything that did get through was comfortably dealt with by Maria Omotayo.
And, as the half came to a close, Meade’s attacking qualities were shown for the first time as she burst down the right flank before seeing her goal-bound effort turned wide at the near post by Grace Timblick.
After the restart, the non-stop running of the magnificent Meade became the narrative of the half. Just seconds into the second period, Ellie Mai Morgan sent her through to fire wide once more.
Electric
And so began a twenty-five minute spell where the Henry Green winger’s electric pace wrought havoc in the opposition defence and denied them any incursion down that side of the pitch.
For a third time in ten minutes, Meade burst through, this time forcing Timblick into a diving save to her right. And then Kayla Grain got in on the act, cutting in from the other flank to fire away another effort from the edge of the box.
Barking & Dagenham were firmly on the front foot now as Brown and Grain sensed blood, combining for the former to cross dangerously, Meade’s volley testing Timblick once again.
The shift in pressure finally told with fifteen minutes remaining as Brown’s in-swinging set-piece found the top corner and delivered what proved to be the killer blow.
Straight away, Fruellet came out fighting, dancing through midfield from kick-off and stinging the hands of Omatayo with a well-struck effort.
It was the last throw of a desperate dice however as Woking never threatened the Barking & Dagenham goal again. The hosts shut up shop, knowing a clean sheet would see them place one hand on that all-important league trophy.
Denied
But that didn’t prevent the chances from flowing for the hosts. First of all, Brown set Holly Anderson free only for a last-ditch tackle to deny the Grafton striker when eight-yards out.
Meade provided a constant outlet down the right, pinning Woking’s midfield back into their own territory in an attempt to withstand the threat.The resultant chaos allowed Anderson to cross for Grace Young to strike on goal. And a final chance to double the lead came when Anderson sliced wide from a late Brown corner.
However, the single goal proved to be enough for the Essex title holders as they snuffed out any remaining hope of an equaliser with their resolute and defiant spirit – a recurring feature of their play throughout the year.
The win foiled Woking’s bid to add the London Girls’ League crown to their impressive trophy cabinet, with Croydon now the only team capable of spoiling Barking & Dagenham’s party. Currently in third place, maximum points from their final two games could still see the Surrey side triumph. Away fixtures at Woking and West Kent post a formidable challenge though.
Barking & Dagenham must now wait to see if their unbeaten league campaign is enough.
Barking & Dagenham: Emily Brown (Godwin); Kirsten McNaughton (George Carey); Miquelleh Meade (Henry Green); Ellie Mai Morgan (Henry Green); Abigail Asare (Henry Green); Maria Omotayo (Roding); Kayla Grain (Richard Alibon); Grace Young (Hunters Hall); Elishah-Oliviae Mintah Adarkwah (George Carey); Holly Anderson (Grafton); Ianna Msekwa (George Carey)