Barking & Dagenham 0-3 Hackney AET

BARKING & DAGENHAM U11S CRASHED out of the London Schools’ FA Crisp Shield after a 3-0 defeat against Hackney. Despite dominating most the game, they conceded three goals in extra time as Hackney went through.

Barking & Dagenham made the better start and went close when Harry Millburn’s corner was diverted goalwards by Emis Gasperavicius, only for a Hackney defender to clear the ball off the line. Millburn then tested the Hackney keeper with a fierce drive from twenty-five yards.

Barking & Dagenham continued to dominate and should have taken the lead with their next attack. Favour Fawunmi skipped to the byline and found Amin Karin in the six-yard-box but Karim’s poked effort hit the post before being cleared.

Hackney then had chances of their own but Tyler Rice produced two outstanding saves to keep the scores level. Firstly he tipped a low drive around the post before producing an even better save to push Nathaniel  Hazem’s rasping drive over.

Barking & Dagenham finished the half on top and Kien Connelly drew a good save from the Hackney keeper after he went past three challenges.

Denied

 Barking & Dagenham were quickly on the front foot in the second half and nearly broke the deadlock, only to be denied by the woodwork once again. Millburn’s corner was headed goalwards by Connelly but the ball dropped onto the bar before falling agonising close to going over the line.

Fawunmi then went close with a well-struck volley but the Hackney keeper was equal to his effort. Hackney then created a chance of their own from a corner but Brandon Dean got down to well to thwart Hazem.

With time running out, Barking & Dagenham thought that had taken the lead when Karim finished from close range. However, his joy was short-lived when the referee decided that he was in an offside position.

As the game went into the final stages, Barking & Dagenham were once again denied by an offside call. Millburn’s well-struck free kick went straight into the bottom corner but it was once again chalked off as the referee had decided that a Barking & Dagenham player had strayed into an offside position. It was another controversial decision and one that meant the game remained level.

There was still time for Barking & Dagenham to go close again, only to be denied by the upright for a third time. Millburn’s deflected effort had the Hackney keeper beaten but the ball hit the post before Hackney could clear.

The first period of extra time saw very little happen despite both sides looking for a winner.

Dubious

In the first minute of the second period Hackney were awarded a dubious corner and from the resulting set piece the deadlock was finally broken. Barking & Dagenham managed to clear the corner only for a Hackney defender to return the ball, more in hope than expectation, and somehow the ball went over Dean’s head and into the back of the net.

With little time left, Barking & Dagenham threw bodies forward but were caught on the break twice as Hackney made sure of the win.

Barking & Dagenham could feel aggrieved at the result as key decisions had gone against them on more than one occasion. However, they could be proud of their efforts in what was a fantastic advert for schools’ football.

Attentions  now turn to the Lester Finch Trophy when the side travel to Islington for their opening Group B game.

Barking & Dagenham: Dean (D Barley), Rice (Southwood) Onajobi (Becontree), Karim (Parsloes), Milburn (Five Elms), Gasperavicius (W Bellamy), Williams, Connolly, Martin, Rich (Valence), Fawunmi Hunters Hall), Stanton (Eastbury)