7/1/16 – Essex Finch League

Barking & Dagenham 4-6 Newham

BARKING & DAGENHAM U11S FELL to defeat in their latest Essex Finch league game despite a brave second half fight back. Goals from Kien Connelly, Bradley Mott, Amin Karim and Harry Milburn saw them recover from 6-1 down but they were ultimately unable to complete a remarkable turnaround. 
After an even start, Newham scored three goals in an eight-minute spell to put themselves in control of the game.
Barking & Dagenham battled on and reduced the arrears when Connelly fired home from close range after some good work from Charlie Rich. However, Newham restored their three goal lead within seconds of the restart from the penalty spot.
Positive
Barking & Dagenham made a postive start to the second period, knowing they needed an early goal to get back into the game. Rich went close only to be denied by the Newham keeper. Connelly and Favour Fawunmi also had efforts of goal but they were unable to find a way back into the game.
Despite having plenty of possession, Newham scored a fifth after a swift counter attack.
Five soon became six as the home side once again showed their ruthlessness in front of goal.
At 6-1 down, many teams would have given up. Not Barking & Dagenham though, who grabbed a secondl courtesy of Mott’s first district goal. The Hunters Hall frontman was sent clear by Connelly and he held off his marker’s challenge before finishing with real aplomb.
Hopes
It seemed no more than a consolation but Barking & Dagenham scored another goal within minutes to rouse further hopes. Milburn was fouled twenty-five yards from goal and he picked himself up to send a brilliant free kick into the top corner to give his side a faint glimmer of resurrection.
Newham were on the back foot now and the game was played almost exclusively in their half. Despite holding such a commanding lead, they were now holding on and their nerves were frayed even further when Barking & Dagenham scored a fourth. Connelly went past two challenges before teeing up Karim, who coolly slotted the ball home.
Barking & Dagenham had real belief they could get something from the game and swarmed forward knowing another goal would set up a grandstand finish. It almost arrived when Connelly’s effort was spilled by the home keeper but Rich saw his follow up strike the post and bounce agonisingly the wrong side of the upright.
Almost
Barking & Dagenham continued to press and were almost rewarded when Connelly fired narrowly wide from distance.
The final whistle saw the home side breathe a massive sigh of relief and Barking & Dagenham were left wondering what might have been if they had a little more luck in front of goal. They will, however, be buoyed by the character that they showed in the latter half of the game. They will now look to build on this when they open their Lester Finch Trophy campaign with a home game against Haringey.
Barking & DagenhamDean (D Barley), Onajobi (Becontree), Karim (Parsloes), Milburn (Five Elms), Gasperavicius (W Bellamy), Connolly, Martin, Rich (Valence), Fawunmi, Mott (Hunters Hall), Stanton (Eastbury)