5/5/18 – London Girls’ League

Barking & Dagenham 2-0 Wandsworth

Sparkled

BARKING & DAGENHAM HEAPED pressure onto rivals Woking as they leap-frogged the Surrey side into first place in the London Girls’ League table. Goals from Grace Young and Emily Brown secured a comfortable 2-0 home victory over fellow league hopefuls Wandsworth to lift the district U11s into pole position.

The opener came ten minutes into the first half when Abigail Asare won position just inside her own half before finding Brown in space. The skipper drove forward, sliding a pass out wide to Young just inside the box, who took a touch, before firing a left foot finish across the keeper – which nestled snugly in the bottom corner.

Young had a chance to double the lead minutes later whilst Brown saw a thunderous effort cannon back off the crossbar following Ellie Mai Morgan’s cross.

Denied

Brown and Morgan were denied again as game progressed: however, it took until the second half before the breakthrough finally came. Three minutes in, Brown drove at the heart of the Wandsworth defence, skipped past a brace of opposition challenges and drew the keeper off her line, before slotting the ball into the empty net.

Brown forced smart saves out the visiting keeper with numerous efforts from distance as Young and Grain ran riot on the flanks.

Unfortunate

By now, Wandsworth were finding it difficult to cope with Barking & Dagenham’s pressing and passing and the home side could count themselves unfortunate not to score more. One and two touch passes all over the pitch brought control for the hosts as the game continued to be played in the away side’s half.

Imperious

And when the visitors did manage to advance into dangerous territory, they found Asare and Ianna Msekwa in imperious form in defence, backed up by the hard-working midfield trio of Brown, Young and Kayla Grain.

It was a route one approach that allowed Holly Anderson to sting the palms of the Wandsworth keeper late on when Maria Omotayo’s punt upfield bounced beyond the opposition rearguard.

Moments later, Morgan had the opportunity to convert a more measured build up as the cultured play of Brown and Young – who sparkled on the left flank – split open the beaten away resistance once more.

The result leaves Barking & Dagenham one point ahead of their nearest rivals, who have a game in hand, with just three games of the season left. A trio of victories will see them add the Southern Counties Cup and London Girls’ League crowns to their Essex Cup title from earlier in the season.

Barking & Dagenham: Emily Brown (Godwin); Kayla Grain (Richard Alibon); Ellie Mai Morgan (Henry Green); Ianna Msekwa (George Carey); Maria Omotayo (Roding); Grace Young (Hunters Hall); Abigail Asare (Henry Green); Holly Anderson (Grafton)