Brent 0-4 Barking & Dagenham

AGAINST THE DRAMATIC backdrop of London Zoo’s Outback exhibit, Barking & Dagenham registered their third straight away win of the season in impressive fashion against Regent’s Park Youth League leaders Brent. An outstanding goalkeeping display from Parsloes debutant Kornelija Kimaviciute, ensured another clean sheet for the BAD Girls whilst a customary hat-trick from Aysia Matabaro and Lara Sousa Franco’s second half strike completed the goal tally.

Matabaro began with intent, producing a brace of blocks from the home keeper in the opening minutes before registering Barking & Dagenham’s opener early on. Hazel Walker’s corner was the all-action midfielder’s sixth successive assist as it zipped across the face of goal, before picking out the district’s all-time leading scorer – who had time to bring the ball down and smash home through a crowded penalty area.

Lead Doubled

And it was the same combination that doubled the lead inside just ten minutes. This time, Walker’s throw into space set Matabaro clear down the right flank. Outpacing her marker, the Roding hotshot then cut inside to slot home at the near post for her thirty-first district goal.

However, Brent were not here just to make up the numbers and the constant menace of their attacking players carried one of the most potent threats Barking & Dagenham have faced all season.

So it was that Klimaviciute was first called into action, sprinting sharply off her line to snaffle out Brent’s first effort on target with a brave sprawling block to charge down the attempt at source.

An even more spectacular dive, chest-first into a tumult of ball, feet and studs drew a second courageous save just two minutes later, to roars of approval from both sets of supporters.

In between, Barking & Dagenham came close to extending their advantage when Lara Sousa Franco, deployed on the left of midfield for the first time, showed great skill to find space by the corner flag before zeroing in a pass to Matabaro on the edge of the box. Sensing an opportunity to move in for the kill, Matabaro shimmied right with her first touch to evade an initial challenge, only to see her well-struck effort fall the wrong side of the upright.

Chaos

On the stroke of half-time, it was Sousa Franco herself who almost benefited from the final chance of the half when Chi-Chi Musa-Onyeka’s long throw-in caused chaos in the Brent area, leading to her St Peter’s classmate firing over from five yards.

At 2-0, whoever registered the next goal would be crucial to deciding the outcome of the game.

Thankfully, for Barking & Dagenham, it was they who enjoyed the good fortune afforded by Matabaro’s deflected cross-come-shot, following Erin Taylor’s switch of play, which somehow found its way over the line within moments of the commencement of the second half.

The goal signalled Matabaro’s sixth district hat-trick and drew her one behind the record for the most goals by a Barking & Dagenham player in a single season.

Moments later, Matabaro almost returned the favour, sending the indomitable Taylor free of the last defender, only for the subsequent shot to find the side netting. Next, Green’s attempt from eighteen yards was defeated by the home keeper’s impeccable positioning.

Despite the chances created, the Barking & Dagenham backline had to be on their toes. Captain Musa-Onyeka stood tall, with more than able support from Pearl Brown and Kadie Gibbs – the latter producing a crucial block on the line to frustrate the home attack.

Blocks & Stops

And when the visitors’ backline eventually was breached, Klimaviciute’s defiant command of her penalty area, selflessly putting her body on the line with several blocks and stops, restricted Brent to a series of half-chances and missed opportunities.

Throughout, Barking & Dagenham continued to create. Sousa Franco was the beneficiary when Green’s hook over the shoulder in midfield sent her off and running down the left. This time, she made no mistake, showing mature composure to sprint through and finish with the outside of her right foot despite the attention of no less than four opposition players.

In the final five minutes, the BAD Girls crafted half a dozen chances to extend the lead.

First, Musa-Onyeka’s ball down the line set Sousa Franco off and running once more. Buoyed by her second goal of the season, she then cut back for Matabaro who fired a fierce blast over the bar from a central position.

Then Zoe Freeman stung the palms of the Brent keeper following an errant goal-kick on the edge of the box.

Taylor and Freeman also went close again before Green popped up on the left to show flair and strength to pick out Freeman once more drifting in from the opposite flank, the attempt flashing across the goal and wide.

Freeman then hit the post in the last minute, but by then the result was confirmed and Barking & Dagenham were home and dry.

Despite the flurry of chances for the visitors, this was by no means a straight-forward win. Brent offered a stern and talented examination against a Barking & Dagenham side missing four regulars in unfamiliar conditions. But it was a test they passed with flying colours and expectations will be high when Chiltern & South Bucks. visit in two weeks’ time.

Barking & Dagenham: Pearl Brown (Rush Green), Zoe Freeman (Rush Green), Kadie Gibbs (James Cambell), Mia Green (Southwood), Kornelija Klimaviciute (Parsloes), Aysia Matabaro (Roding), Chioma Musa-Onyeka (St Peter’s), Lara Sousa Franco (St Peter’s), Erin Taylor (The Leys), Hazel Walker (Parsloes)