Barking & Dagenham 3-2 Thurrock

BARKING & DAGENHAM BEGAN 2022 with victory by the odd goal in five, in a see-saw game at May & Baker. In an end-to-end encounter, the BAD Boys were met with wind, rain, mud – and a Thurrock side intent on getting the New Year off to a flying start.

The visitors would however be caught out by the hosts’ first real attack. Grafton’s Kylan Okosi played a long diagonal ball to Eghosa Ekhosuehi – playing central midfield in the absence of Captain Michael Milburn. Ekhosuehi’s precise through ball found his St Vincent’s team-mate Owen Orhue through on goal. Orhue’s first touch was sublime, and his rocket left foot shot went in at the near post – for 1-0 after barely two minutes.

Five minutes later, Ekhosuehi and Orhue again combined, and the latter’s viscous in-swinging cross was fired wide by Finley Hossack.

Made to Pay

Thurrock had been let off the hook, and immediately made the hosts pay.

Against the run of play, a long ball over the top was not properly dealt with by the home defence. The mishit clearance was played through for the equaliser – despite the brave efforts of Grafton’s Freddie Cable in the home goal.

Nine minutes gone, two goals and the New Year had begun with a bang.

Wakeup call headed, Barking & Dagenham put their foot on the gas as they began to create – and miss – chances at will.

Orhue blazed over after again being put through, Thomas had one shot blocked and another went just wide, and Roding Cannington’s Oliver Grange was denied from point blank range by a brilliant save from the Thurrock goalkeeper.

Ekhosuehi was himself denied after his jinking run and audacious chip came back off the crossbar.

Thurrock were on the ropes, but as often happens in football – they would score from their next attack. The home defence again failed to deal with a ball into the box, and the ball fell to blue shirts on the edge of the penalty area. A clever disguise made the defence turn their backs, and the resulting through ball was slotted home – with Cable again unlucky in the Barking & Dagenham goal.

Behind

The hosts were now behind in a game they had dominated. The visitors lead 2-1, and were going into the break full of confidence.

Or so everyone thought.

With virtually the last kick of the first half, Jordanne Thomas of Five Elms sprung to life. He blasted past the Thurrock defence, and smashed a long range shot that again hit the crossbar. The ball went up in the air, and Man of the Match Orhue reacted first to volley in the rebound to send the hosts in at 2-2.

The second half was cagey, as both teams had now shaken off their defensive rust. A midfield battle ensued, and both sides struggled to fashion anything other than half chances. As in the previous game, George Carey’s Judah Blair-Charles and Grafton’s Callum Salmon were again keeping the visitors at bay with a slew of last-ditch slide tackles in the rain. Stalemate had ensued after half time.

Oba Adetona of Valence had been introduced at the break, and his pace began to trouble the visitors.

On forty-four minutes, the first chance of the second half came. Ekhosuehi was again pulling the strings in central midfield, and his skill and flair fashioned a one-on-one for Adetona. The Valence man opted to round the keeper instead of shooting first time, and just as he was about to slot the ball home – he lost his footing at the crucial moment… and slipped. The conditions had robbed the hosts of the go-ahead goal.

No Mistake

Two minutes later however, the winner arrived. Blair-Charles played a free kick into the box, and the clearance returned straight to him. He crossed again, and this time Adetona made no mistake – hitting a low left foot half volley past the Thurrock keeper into the bottom corner.

Adetona and Richard Alibon’s Elijah Armah then both had shots blocked on the line as the hosts tried to extend their lead, but the game ended without any more goals – or any serious threats to the home goal.

Next up for Barking & Dagenham is a home Crisp Shield tie against Islington.

Barking & Dagenham: Freddie Cable (Grafton), Judah Blair-Charles (George Carey), Callum Salmon (Grafton), Jordanne Thomas (Five Elms), Kylan Okosi (Grafton), Owen Orhue (St Vincent’s), Oba Adetona (Valence), Elijah Armah (Richard Alibon), Oliver Grange (Roding Cannington), Finley Hossack (Godwin), Eghosa Ekhosuehi (St Vincent’s), Cezar Curbet (William Bellamy)