Barking & Dagenham 1-0 Brent
UNBEATEN BARKING & DAGENHAM FOLLOWED up last year’s fifth place, with the runners-up spot in the London Girl’s League after a gripping 1-0 victory over champions Brent. Pahris Cotterell’s tenth goal of the season was all that separated the two sides as the district girls proved once and for all that they have been one of the finest teams around this season.
Barking & Dagenham were on the front foot from the start, knowing that only a win would move them up from third to overtake Sutton in second.
However the draining conditions brought an attritional first half where chances remained few and far between. When they did eventually come, it was the home side who had the clearest cut openings.
Ahead
And it was from one of those that Barking & Dagenham edged ahead midway through the first half. Skipper Blythe, who had been enjoying the acres of space open to her down the right flank, produced a typically direct run into Brent territory before centring a fizzing cross across goal. Cotterall’s first touch looked to have taken the ball behind her, but a swivelled finish into the bottom corner caught the visiting keeper off-guard and provided a lead that Barking & Dagenham refused to relinquish.
In the moments following the goal, Barking & Dagenham had two golden chances to extend their lead. First, Blythe volleyed Cotterell’s dangerous corner over from five yards out. Then the captain pressured the Brent rear-guard into panic, only for Makayla Smith to see her sliding effort curl wide.
In the second half, Barking & Dagenham’s defence sat back, soaking up pressure in the knowledge that a clean sheet would provide them with the win they wanted.
Formidable
It worked like a treat. Alisha Johnson and Rachel Babatunde showed tenacity and grit to restrict their formidable opponents, who had won all of their previous league games, to half chances and snatched shots.
Smith, Gomes and Blythe backed them up with tireless work in midfield, looking to exploit the pace of Mariam Daisy Ngobo Azeez on the break.
Ngobo Azeez proved a willing runner, keeping Brent’s backline on their toes as she was felled twice in the area – prompting strong but ultimately unsuccessful penalty shouts.
Indeed it was Barking & Dagenham who came closing to scoring, hitting the woodwork twice in the closing stages.
Gomes’ header from a Blythe corner was tipped onto the bar, before Blythe herself rattled the frame with a shot from the edge of the area with only minutes remaining.
Memorable
Neither attempts were successful – nor were they needed – as the home side held firm to celebrate a memorable and vitally important victory.
It was a fitting end to another excellent season for the district girls whose excellent attitude and spirit saw them represent the borough with pride and distinction throughout the campaign.
Barking & Dagenham: Babatunde (Richard Alibon); Embery, Johnson, Blythe, (Valence); Gomes (St Joseph’s Dagenham); Bhavani (Parsloes); Cotterell (Manor Longbridge); Smith (Henry Green); Ngobo Azeez (Godwin)