BARKING & DAGENHAM’S PROUD RECORD in Southern Counties competitions continued as they captured a maiden League Intermediate Cup title in leafy Woking. Three draws and three wins were enough for the Essex side who manoeuvred their way through the competition without conceding a goal to edge their way to the top of the table by a point from runners-up Elmbridge & Runnymede.   

The day began in fine style with a 1-0 victory over Chiltern & South Bucks. Malaika Uwandji signalled her intent in the third minute after Simonette Johnson waltzed past three Chiltern defenders before picking out the winger in the box.

This time, Uwandji fired at the keeper, but she made no mistake four minutes later when Manor’s Keira Ly slipped her into the box to race clear and slot home for the first goal of the day.

Dynamic

A 0-0 draw with Caerphilly A followed before Barking & Dagenham followed up with the same score-line against Caerphilly’s B team. The lack of goals wasn’t for the want of trying however, with ten-minute matches severely limiting the chances of scoring.

Still though, Johnson struck a post at the end of a dynamic run straight from kick-off.

Then Aaliyah Felix picked out Uwandji, only for the district’s top-scorer to be denied by another fine save.

Uwandji then found Abbie Blewitt bursting into the box down the centre of the pitch, but again the attempt on goal was repelled and Barking & Dagenham’s hopes of lifting the silverware were well and truly in the balance.

So, a win against hosts Woking was crucial.

Johnson’s hold-up play continued to cause opponents problems, this time popping up on the left to centre for Uwandji in the box.

Agonising

Her first effort picked out the keeper, with the follow-up striking her prone legs in agonising fashion.

Johnson then found herself in the six-yard box with the goal gaping but another point-blank save denied her before Zainab Touray lost her balance when tapping in the rebound, instead deflecting the ball onto the post to ramp up the tension.

Felix then latched onto a misplaced goal-kick to drill an effort just wide from twenty yards before Uwandji finally snatched a dramatic last-gasp winner from close range for what proved to be a vital win.

The chances continued to flow in the next match-up with Elmbridge & Runnymede.

Uwandji’s fierce effort from the edge of the box spiralled narrowly over the bar before she again, alongside Blewitt’s drilled effort, went close.

And another goalmouth scramble saw Johnson and Touray almost convert with the post again coming to their opponents’ rescue.

Despite dominating every game though, circumstance, luck and a narrow clock went against Barking & Dagenham who were still in the hunt – but in need of a big win to make sure.

Game On

That set up the final tie with Slough, with nothing less than three points needed.

So, when Ly curled into the top corner from twenty yards after seizing upon a loose clearance in the second minute, it was ‘Game On’.

To make sure, Barking & Dagenham needed more.

Uwandji was in the mood, looking to add to her fourteen goals for the season, but another strong goalkeeping performance caused frustration.

In particular, an amazing sequence midway through the game saw Johnson and Blewitt combine brilliantly before a stunning triple save left the visiting supporters biting their nails as the seconds ticked by.

But with results elsewhere going their way, the slender victory was enough for Barking & Dagenham to clinch top spot and a well-deserved slice of glory. They dominated every game they played, with neither Grace Attwood-Adams nor Emily Peka having a save to make as they took turns in goal.

Instead, it was simply a case of ‘how many?’ in front of goal for the majority of fixtures faced.

In the end, one was enough each time and – in truth – no-one cared as skipper Jona Islami lifted the trophy to cap off a fine day’s work for her side.

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); Simonette Johnson (St Peter’s); Zainab Touray (Northbury); Maria Mateus (George Carey); Keira Ly (Manor); Aaliyah Felix (Goresbrook); Comfort Mazel (Godwin)