Barking & Dagenham 0-1 Havering
THE LONG, LONG UNBEATEN run of five times champions Barking & Dagenham finally came to an end as neighbours Havering edged a fiercely contested encounter by a single goal to nil. It was February 2017 when the holders last tasted defeat at the hands of that season’s national champions, Haringey, by the same score-line at a snowy May & Bakers. Forty-three games later, that proud record was finally surrendered – although Barking & Dagenham could never be accused of going down without a fight.
In fact, the game signalled one of their more accomplished displays of the season which the hosts began brightly and dominated play in the opening third of the game.
With less than sixty seconds on the clock, Maria Matteus’ long ball from her own half sent leading scorer Simonette Johnson away as the St Peter’s striker broke through a brace of challenges before firing into the knees of Havering’s well-placed keeper from a forty-five degree angle.
Panic
Malaika Uwandji’s subsequent in-swinging corner caused panic and was almost deflected inside the near post before being hacked away at the last second.
Havering threatened on the break and home keeper Emily Peka had to be at her best to repel a fierce drive in the ninth minute, thrusting a strong right hand to her right and tipping over the bar.
Nonetheless, the hosts enjoyed the better chances for the remainder of the half as Uwandji went close with a free-kick from the left and Johnson powered through once more, only for her finish under pressure to fall the wrong side of the post.
In fact, Johnson was rampant as four Havering defenders struggled to cope with her power, pace and aggression.
It was therefore to Barking & Dagenham’s great frustration when, within a minute of the resumption of play after half-time, a long ball down the middle exposed a lack of concentration and Havering broke through for what would prove to be the winner.
Moments later, Peka again saved well as the visitors pressed forward in search of a second.
Valiant
But the only clearcut opening in the half for either side came with just three minutes remaining when Abbie Blewitt’s through-ball sent Uwandji through on goal. With heavy pressure approaching from all sides, the Roding forward improvised well to toe-poke firmly from twenty yards.
Agonisingly, her valiant attempt flashed wide, taking with it Barking & Dagenham’s hopes of adding to their points tally and ensuring a second successive league clean sheet for Havering.
The result leaves Barking & Dagenham needing a win next week against Hackney to keep their London Girls’ League hopes alive. If they play like they did here, they have every chance of doing so. But sooner or later they will need to convert the opportunities their industrious team-play creates if they are to progress to the Super Six stage of the competition.
Barking & Dagenham: Emily Peka (Valence); Jona Islami (Roding); Gilda Hasani (Northbury); Zainab Touray (Northbury); Abbie Blewitt (Hunters Hall); Paloma Correia (George Carey); Amelia Hussain (Richard Alibon); Malaika Uwandji (Roding); Aaliyah Felix (Goresbrook); Simonette Johnson (St Peter’s); Comfort Mazel (Godwin); Maria Matteus (George Carey)