Newham 2-3 Barking & Dagenham 

Barking & Dagenham U11’s produced a brilliant, battling performance to defeat league leaders Newham by the odd goal in 5 in their latest Essex Finch league game. Goals from Tolu Fabamifobee, Nathan Solomon and Amine Zafer secured the win that throws the title race wide open.  

Pacy

Newham were quick out of the traps and enjoyed the lion share of possession in the opening stages. Their pacy front runners caused problems for the Barking & Dagenham defenders and they should have taken an early lead. However, their striker blazed over from close range. The same player then went close again with a low drive as Barking & Dagenham struggled to get into the game.

In Front

However, they began to find some possession and almost immediately went in front Romir Mann’s clever through-ball found Fabamifobee, who curled the ball around the Newham keeper to give his side the lead. Newham almost hit back with their next attack but Abhi Pal produced a smart save low to his left. Newham continued to dominate the possession but Barking & Dagenham looked the more likely to score and, both Mann and Fabamifobee, went close to stretching their side’s lead. 

Lofted 

Barking and Dagenham started he 2nd operiod well and enjoyed som early pressure on the home goal. However, they were nearly pegged back when the pacy winger nipped in but Alamin Kosoko produced an excellent last ditch tackle to deny the Newham player just as he was about to get is shot away.  With their next attack, Barking & Dagenham increased their lead. Solomon was moved into a more advanced position on the right and the change paid immediate dividends. Solomon pinched the ball from a Newham defender just outside the area before lofting the ball over the home keeper to put his side 2-0 up. 

Full of Confidence

The visitors were now full of confidence and strectched their lead even further with a 3rd moments later. Aidon Shehu’s free kick struck the crossbar and Zafer was first to react, firing the ball home from just inside the 6-yard box. Newham, who were unbeaten in the league, were now on the rocks and only a smart save from their goalkeeper prevented Barking & Dagenham grabbing a 4th. Mann’s surging drive and low effort was well saved by the Newham stopper; with Matas Klimas firing the rebound high over the crossbar. Mann then went even closer with a low effort that beat the keeper but crashed against the upright.

Time Running Out

With time running out, Newham threw caution to the wind and committed bodies forward. Barking & Dagenham remained a threat on the break. The home side pulled one back with 4 minutes remaining after their winger got in behind the Barking defence and his cutback was bundled home from close range. The home side them set up a grandstand finish with a 2nd moments later. A long ball over the top wasn’t dealt with and the striker finished well past Pal. 

The last few minutes saw Barking and Dagenham pinned back in their own half as Newham pushed for an equaliser but they were unable to create anymore chances and Barking held on for an excellent win. 

Barking & Dagenham: Nathan Solomon (Southwood), Alamin Kosoko (Richard Alibon), Matas Klimas (Marsh Green), Somfechi Okuno, (Dorothy Barley), Abhi Pal (Dorothy Barley), Ibrahim Bangurah (Valence), Romir Mann (Rush Green), Aidon Shehu (Hunters Hall), Amine Zafer (Gascoigne), Tolu Fabamifobee (George Carey), Emmanuel Mintah (Valence)