Barking & Dagenham 3-1 West Kent
ESSEX CHAMPIONS BARKING & DAGENHAM were made to work hard as they resumed their London Girls’ League campaign, moving into second place after a 3-1 victory over a resolute West Kent side. Far from settling for being the underdogs, the visitors severely tested their opponents before a second half fightback inspired by captain Emily Brown helped her side run out as eventual winners.
Things couldn’t have begun better for Barking & Dagenham who took the lead in the third minute when Kayla Grain played out confidently from the back, switching play inside to Brown. The skipper’s ball out wide found Miquellah Meade on the right flank who skipped past two challenges and burst into the box.
Opener
Meade looked to have over-run the ball at the crucial moment, but the Henry Green midfielder’s turn of pace caught out the West Kent keeper – who was forced into a challenge she wasn’t expecting. The hesitancy was seized upon by Meade who regained possession before firing goalwards for a deflected opener.
After fifteen minutes, Grace Young’s dangerous run across the edge of the penalty area saw her tripped. The resultant free-kick from Brown was hit high and hard, striking an unexpectant defender on the line before spiralling wide in dramatic fashion.
As the half wore on though, Barking & Dagenham took their foot off the gas, settling for speculative efforts from distance and lacking the urgency to put their opponents away for good.
Complacency spread through the side as West Kent grew in confidence, eventually gaining a foothold in midfield and asking serious questions of the home side’s rear-guard. It was hardly surprising then when poor marking and a series of missed challenges allowed West Kent back into the game – gifting them an equaliser five minutes before half-time.
Rattled
Barking & Dagenham were rattled as the interval provided a welcome opportunity to regroup and prepare to go again.
It took a few minutes to wrestle control back from the visitors: however, the hosts regained the lead when Brown picked up the ball at the halfway line and drove into enemy territory. Evading three challenges, defenders were brushed aside as she bore down on goal, dragging players out of position and enabling Holly Anderson to find space. Brown centred to the Grafton striker inside the box who calmly slotted in her seventh of the season from four yards out.
The lead was almost extended moments later when good work from Meade and Ellie Mai Morgan created an opportunity for Young to fire over from the edge of the area.
Two minutes later, Meade’s busy play saw her fashion a half-chance which nearly brought her second goal of the game.
However, the result was secured eight minutes before full-time when Brown embarked on a similar marauding burst to that which brought Anderson’s earlier goal; except this time, the Godwin playmaker completed her mazy run with an accomplished finish to move into third place on the Barking & Dagenham all-time scorers list.
Barking & Dagenham: Emily Brown (Godwin); Kayla Grain (Richard Alibon); Miquelleh Meade (Henry Green); Ellie Mai Morgan (Henry Green); Ianna Msekwa (George Carey); Maria Omotayo (Roding); Grace Young (Hunters Hall)