Barking & Dagenham 4-1 St Albans
BARKING & DAGENHAM STRETCHED their unbeaten run in the London Girls’ League to an amazing twenty-six games as they maintained their 100% record in this season’s competition. Aysia Matabaro’s third hat-trick in as many games, plus Marcheri Sherrif’s second half penalty, took the three points for the hosts, although they were more than made to work for it by their resolute and determined opponents.
Struggling to find their rhythm for much of the first half, Barking & Dagenham were served their first warning of the day when St Albans broke in the fourth minute, first hitting the bar, then the post, either side of a crucial block from keeper Dalia Wyszczelska.
Frustration
There followed a prolonged period of frustration for the home side as their usual passing game never really clicked, showing a lack of precision in the final third.
A constant threat though was the alertness of striker Matabaro, who was at the heart of everything that Barking & Dagenham were able to create.
First, she combined with Rehema Okungu to play in Eva Young, whose early snapshot was shuffled behind for a corner by the visiting keeper.
Then, in the tenth minute, Matabaro latched onto a clearance from Sherrif to manufacture attempts for herself and Young once again.
She was further denied in the thirteenth minute after bursting clear from the half-way line, before turning provider when Tobe Edoka saw her goalbound effort blocked from Matabaro’s half-cleared corner.
Breakthrough
It was fitting then, when in the twenty-first minute, it was the Roding forward who provided the breakthrough, stealing in when Sherrif’s long-throw from the left bobbled around in the box.
And it was two-nil minutes later in identical fashion, giving Barking & Dagenham a fortunate lead going into the break.
The pattern of the game continued in the second half, with the home side unable to keep the ball in midfield, relying upon the pace of Matabaro at one end, and the ever-dependable Sherrif at the other.
It was no surprise then when St Albans pulled themselves back into the game shortly after the restart, capitalising on loose marking in the home side’s penalty area for what was a vital foothold back into the game.
Sniffing blood, St Albans piled on the pressure for the following ten minutes or so, with Wyszczelska’s immaculate handling helping to keep the advantage in her side’s favour.
Space
Midway through the second half though, Barking & Dagenham began to stem the tide as St Albans committed more bodies forward, freeing up space for Matabaro to continue to exploit.
First, a toe poked effort from twelve yards was well-saved, before Young again came close with an effort from distance.
Matabaro then saw her shot tipped onto the post before another fierce drive cannoned wide off the beaten keeper’s back leg as she turned away from the power of the strike.
From the resulting corner, fittingly taken by Matabaro, a handball in the box provided an opportunity to settle the nerves. The steady presence of skipper Sherrif made no mistake from the spot, stroking into the bottom corner to restore a two-goal cushion.
With six minutes to go, the tie was put beyond doubt when Sherrif returned the favour, smashing a goal-kick down the centre of the pitch for Matabaro to race onto in Route One fashion, powering clear for the hat-trick her individual display so richly deserved.
Points Secure
There were also further opportunities for Rihanna Zaman and Rehema Okungu, but by now the points were secure and Barking & Dagenham could finally relax in the knowledge that a win in their final game of the season against Woking will see them crowned as London Girls’ League winner for the third time in a row.
Before that though, there will be the little matter of the Southern Counties Cup final to contest, also against old foes Woking, at Oxford City F.C. on Saturday 12th June. Kick-off is at 11:30 a.m.
Barking & Dagenham: Tobechukwu Edoka (George Carey), Gracie Jones (Grafton), Aysia Matabaro (Roding), Rehema Okungu (George Carey), Chi-Chi Musa-Onyeka (St Peters), Marcheri Sheriff (Grafton), Dalia Wyszczelska (Hunters Hall), Eva Young (Hunters Hall), Rihanna Zaman (Hunters Hall)