Barking & Dagenham 6-3 Triangoals

BARKING & DAGENHAM DOUBLED UP local club side Triangoals after a first half scare at Robert Clack.

Any thoughts the BAD Boys had that the visitors from Barking Riverside had come to be cannon fodder were quickly dashed inside of two minutes. Former District player Jahcorey Blair-Charles charged through central midfield – past little brother Judah – and tucked a neat finish under Cezar Curbet in the Barking & Dagenham goal.

It was 1-0 in the blink of an eye and the hosts were in shock.

It took seven minutes to wake from their slumber and it was inevitably the captain who would shake things up. Five Elm’s Michael Milburn played a neat one two with Grafton’s Kylan Okosi, and unleashed a curling shot that was brilliantly saved by Edvinas Naudzuis in the Triangoals net.

Level

Three minutes later, the hosts would be level. Another cut inside and dangerous curling shot from Milburn was again saved by Naudzius.

The resulting corner though was powerfully headed in by Owen Orhue of St Vincent’s at the back post for the equaliser.

With the visitors rocking, the BAD Boys quickly struck again. Possession was regained from the kick-off, and a long ball found Milburn’s Five Elms teammate Jordane Thomas on the right-hand side. Thomas cut inside and hit a shot that was blocked straight into the path of Milburn, whose first-time half volley flew in at the near post. Yet another stunning effort from the Barking & Dagenham Captain, and the hosts had turned a deficit into a lead in the blink of an eye.

Orhue nearly netted his second from an identical corner on twenty minutes, but his effort was this time blocked on the line.

The hosts were in total control and mounted another attack that would result in their sixth corner of the first half – two minutes before the break. This time however, Triangoals cleared it up field where another former district player – Joel Ladegbaye – was waiting for the long ball. He waited for the bounce to sit up nicely before smashing a thunderous volley across Curbet and into the far corner for 2-2.

Shock

Barking & Dagenham appeared to be in disbelief that a game they had dominated was again level, and before they could recover from the shock – Triangoals struck again.

On the stroke of half time, Ladegbaye broke up a BAD Boys’ attack and picked up the ball inside his own half. He charged forward and, before he knew it, was inside the home side’s penalty area. He made no mistake as the hosts stood and watched and Triangoals had an unlikely 3-2 half time lead.

A shell-shocked Barking & Dagenham gathered themselves at half time and regained control. For a period of seven minutes the visitors barely touched the ball, and all that was missing was the finishing touch.

Inevitably, it would be Milburn who would answer again. Thomas’ cross was met by Okosi, whose shot rebounded his path. The captain tucked it away, and the scores were level again.

Having just scored, the hosts were again at their most vulnerable, and Ladegbaye almost exploited this again. This time, his powerful run, turn and shot rebounded back of the post and the BAD Boys got a let off.

Siege

Milburn and company came again, and laid siege to the visiting goal. The pressure told, as Thomas’ cross was handballed in the penalty area. Thomas stepped up himself and converted to give Barking & Dagenham their second lead of the game.

Next, Ladegbaye was denied first by a great save by Grafton’s Freddie Cable in the home goal, and then by an incredible goal line clearance by Cable’s Grafton teammate Callum Salmon.

Crisis averted, the hosts then finished the game as a contest. Thomas charged through again and slipped a through ball to Oba Adetona. The Valence man picked his spot in the top corner, and the BAD Boys finally had the cushion their play deserved.

Adetona was not done and would give Barking & Dagenham further insurance five minutes from time. He turned inside and out on the edge of the box before his low shot found its way into the bottom corner.

With the game in hand, Salmon, Cable and Judah Blair-Charles shut up shop and denied Triangoals any further chances.

Next for the hosts is a crucial Essex League home game against Mid Essex

Barking & Dagenham: Freddie Cable (Grafton), Cezar Curbet (William Bellamy), Callum Salmon (Grafton), Judah Blair-Charles (George Carey), Zuheir Ali (George Carey), Jordane Thomas (Five Elms), Kylan Okosi (Grafton), Owen Orhue (St Vincent’s), Captain – Michael Milburn (Five Elms), Oba Adetona (Valence), Elijah Armah (Richard Alibon), Christopher Panda (St Peter’s)