Redbridge 3-1 Barking & Dagenham
A MUCH-IMPROVED PERFORMANCE was not enough to save the BAD Boys from a second consecutive defeat – in their opening league fixture of the season.
The visitors started brightly playing against the wind in the first half, stringing together neat passes in midfield. Captain Michael Milburn and Five Elms team-mate Jordanne Thomas led the way and Barking & Dagenham posed a genuine threat to one of the title favourites in the Essex League.
Redbridge would however have the first real chance. With seven minutes played, their quick counter-attack and low shot from the edge of the box was well saved by Freddie Cable in the visitor’s goal.
Opener
And it was another counter-attack that led to the opening goal.
After nine minutes – and growing in confidence – Redbridge launched another attack into the Barking & Dagenham half.
It was, in turn, quickly snuffed out by Judah Blair-Charles in the BAD Boys’ defence, and his ball up the line set the industrious Thomas on his way. The Five Elms man then turned on the after burners, sprinted past the Redbridge defence – and smashed a shot into the top corner of the near post.
A great show of power and pace, and the visitors led.
A goal up and looking comfortable, the visitors sat back. Redbridge seized on the opportunity – and began putting Cable’s goal under pressure.
Their efforts nearly yielded success on fifteen minutes but the post came to Barking & Dagenham’s aid.
Cable would be called upon again to make a save from point blank range minutes later, as the visitors were rocking.
Equaliser
The equaliser arrived five minutes before the break, as a neat move and through ball on the inside left was tucked into the bottom corner for 1-1.
Though the goal was no more than the home side deserved, they were nearly caught out again on the counter-attack by Thomas on the stroke of half time. On this occasion however, the wingers shot hit the frame of the goal – with Milburn unable to turn in the rebound.
Just as the visitors were preparing for half time, Redbridge caught them out. A sequence of passes through the midfield saw the home striker unmarked inside the Bad Boys’ box. Cable got a hand to the ball but was unlucky as the ball nestled in the bottom corner off the post.
The second half began with Owen Orhue doing his best to change Barking & Dagenham’s fortunes. A series of powerful runs down the left-hand side and early crosses were narrowly missed by Milburn and Thomas – who were denied by the odd deflection here and there.
Knockout Blow
And with ten minutes remaining, the knockout blow arrived as Redbridge won the ball down the visitor’s left. They played a quick pass up the line for a first time cross, which was turned in to end Barking & Dagenham’s resistance.
Defeat in their first league game of the season, means Barking & Dagenham will likely need to win their next league game – at home to Thurrock in the New Year – to have any chance of winning the title this season.
Barking & Dagenham: Freddie Cable (Grafton), Judah Blair-Charles (George Carey), Firdaus Bakare (Roding Cannington), Callum Salmon (Grafton), Jordanne Thomas (Five Elms), Kylan Okosi (Grafton), Michael Milburn (Five Elms), Owen Orhue (St Vincent’s), Oba Adetona (Valence), Elijah Armah (Richard Alibon), Oliver Grange (Roding Cannington), Finley Hossack (Godwin), Cezar Curbet (William Bellamy)