Barking & Dagenham 6-0 Barnet
KNOWING THAT NOTHING less than a substantial victory would keep their London Girls’ League hopes alive, Barking & Dagenham put in their best display of the season to savage visitors Barnet and claim maximum points. With over thirty attempts on goal across the course of the game, the district side produced an emphatic performance to give themselves every chance of progression to the next stage of the competition.
The hosts produced a scoring opportunity in every minute of a breathless first half. Grace Young and Pahris Cotterell both shot wide when well-placed before Nour Khalfaoui deflected Cotterell’s cross onto the post as early as the third minute.
Firm Finish
Cotterell fired wide again before the pressure eventually paid off. Again, it was captain Cotterell who was at the heart of the move, centring for Khalfaoui fifteen yards out. She then set herself before lashing a firm finish into the back of the net to give Barking & Dagenham a well-deserved lead.
It took almost fifteen minutes for Barking & Dagenham to double their adavantage despite laying siege to the opposition goal. In the end, it was Young’s quick-thinking that began the vital passage of play when her swiftly taken throw-in caught Barnet’s backline off-guard. Khalfaoui collected the ball before laying off to Emily Brown. Two touches later and the visiting keeper was picking the ball out of the back of the net as the home side were truly in control.
Six chances in the five minutes before half-time brought a third goal as an excellent passing move involving Young and Brown saw the former cut in from the left wing to slot the ball into the bottom corner.
The second half began at a more even pace as Barnet rearranged their defences to cope with the onslaught. However the reintroduction of Cotterell from the sidelines signalled the resumption of the scoring as she surged down the right flank, resisting the temptation to go down under a heavy challenge, to flash a cross into the danger area. Ella Eskelson’s challenge on the keeper brought an error and the Hunters Hall striker was on hand to poke the ball over the line at the second attempt.
The same combination brought an outstanding save from the Barnet keeper moments later before Brown blazed over after a one-two with Cotterell.
Too Hot
With eight minutes remaining, Brown turned provider, spreading play out wide to Cotterell on the wing. From a tight angle, the skipper drilled in a shot that was too hot to handle and the score was extended to 5-0.
The final five minutes of the second half mirrored the final five minutes of the first as Barking & Dagenham went on the offensive knowing that goal difference could be crucial in determining their final position in the table.
Brown had two well-struck shots from distance tipped wide before the hosts added a sixth. Cotterell was again pivotal, advancing through enemy territory before centring to Brown. Her shot brought a smart save but Eskelson poached home the rebound from close range to make it a half-dozen.
Cotterell, Brown and defender Tina Mutuale all had efforts go close in the closing stages to wrap up a wonderful and committed team performance.
Barking & Dagenham: K Bhavnani (Parsloes); L Duffield, E Brown (Godwin); T Mutuale (Henry Green); P Cotterell (Manor Longbridge); E Eskelson, N Khalfaoui, G Young (Hunters Hall)