Tower Hamlets 1-2 Barking & Dagenham
BARKING & DAGENHAM U11S CONTINUED their excellent start to the season with a hard-fought 2–1 away win against Tower Hamlets. Goals from Noble and Raheem saw the boys come from behind to secure the win.
The game started as a scrappy affair, with both sides struggling to deal with the playing surface. The home side, however, took the lead with their first foray forward. A loose pass was seized upon by the pacy Jerell, who slotted the ball past Roman.
Barking & Dagenham struggled to get a foothold in the game but were handed a chance to draw level when the referee awarded a penalty for a push in the area. However, Hudson’s well-struck effort was saved by the Tower Hamlets keeper, and the first quarter ended with the home side in front.
Barking & Dagenham started the second quarter on the front foot, and Arif’s surging run caused problems for the home defence. His cross was blocked by some desperate defending, with the home side eventually managing to clear the ensuing scramble in the box.
The visitors continued to knock on the door, and parity was restored when Noble fired home from the edge of the box after the home side failed to clear their lines. Things almost got even better with their next attack, but Noble’s thunderous drive crashed against the crossbar with the keeper well beaten.
The third quarter saw Barking & Dagenham take control of the game. Sage was denied by the home goalkeeper after Liam’s inch-perfect pass cut open the defence. Noble and Arif both went close in quick succession as the visitors maintained the pressure. Liam then fashioned a chance for himself, but his shot went narrowly wide of the upright.
The home side ended the quarter camped in their own half, but Barking & Dagenham were unable to make their pressure count, and the game entered the final quarter with the scores level.
The final quarter began with Raheem testing the home keeper with a snapshot from the edge of the area as Barking & Dagenham searched for a winner. Sage was then thwarted by some last-ditch defending, while some neat passing almost created another opportunity for him. However, the home side continued to hold the visitors at bay.
Eventually, the pressure paid off as Barking & Dagenham took the lead. Arif released Raheem, and the Southwood striker raced clear of the Hamlet defence before rifling the ball home to give his side a deserved advantage.
Hudson was then denied a third goal when his acrobatic volley from Liam’s corner produced an outstanding save from the home goalkeeper. Raheem raced clear once again, but his shot was saved, with the keeper managing to push the ball away from the onrushing Hudson.
Hudson was involved again in the next attack, slipping Liam through, but his cross flew across the face of goal. Liam then saw his free-kick cleared off the line, with Hudson almost forcing the ball over the line in the ensuing scramble.
The home side threw bodies forward in search of an equaliser, but they failed to trouble Roman, and Barking & Dagenham saw the game out to secure a battling victory.
The win rounded off a successful week for the boys, with two victories to add to their triumph at the Arsenal FC Hale End Cup. Another impressive result as the Under 11s continue their excellent start to the season.