Barking & Dagenham 2-2 St Albans
AYSIA MATABARO’S TWENTY-EIGHTH and twenty-ninth district goals saw the Roding hotshot leapfrog to the top of the Barking & Dagenham all-time scorers list, providing the highlight of a mixed start to 2022 for the borough’s representative side. A draw against group-toppers St Albans stretched the home side’s unbeaten run in the London Girls’ League to twenty-eight games but Barking & Dagenham were made to rue missed chances as the visitors twice came from behind to share the spoils.
The home side hit their straps right from the start, dominating midfield and seeking an early opener.
Matabaro duly obliged in the second minute, when a strong tackle on Zoe Freeman around the edge of the box fell to the supporting run of Hazel Walker. A first-time pass picked out Matabaro whose shot was spilled over the line for an early lead.
Attack
Three minutes later, it looked like the hosts would be able to attack at will when Matabaro and Walker again combined to tee up Erin Taylor cutting in from the left, only for the Leys’ winger’s effort to be beaten back by the St Albans keeper.
Instead, it was the visitors who struck back on eight minutes. A rare foray deep into Barking & Dagenham territory saw the home side lose their shape, with the ball eventually finding its way to two unmarked St Albans forwards in the six-yard box. Keeper Honey Thomas was down bravely to save at the feet of the first to react, but she was powerless to prevent the follow-up from being converted from close range when the necessary back-up failed to arrive.
From then on though, it was all Barking & Dagenham.
A minute after the equaliser, skipper Chi-Chi Musa-Onyeka’s throw-in near the left-hand side of the penalty area was returned by Freeman, with the captain’s first-time volley on the follow-up crashing off the bar in spectacular fashion from way out wide.
Four minutes later, Matabaro danced her way past two St Albans defenders, only to see her near-post strike saved.
Grateful
And midway through the half, Elizabeth Dimitrova’s corner caused chaos in the box, with Taylor’s snatch-shot cushioning straight into the midriff of the grateful goalkeeper.
The woodwork was again left shaking when Matabaro’s drive from the edge of the penalty area was tipped against the post, with Barking & Dagenham going into half-time frustrated at not being further ahead.
After the break, Dimitrova and Walker had early half-chances – but it was a rash tackle on Mia Green that eventually led to the one-goal advantage being restored. Two hands to the back saw the Southwood playmaker go tumbling over, in what looked like the inside edge of the penalty area.
The challenge was adjudged to be over the line however, with the hosts awarded a free-kick in a dangerous position to the right-hand side of the box. No matter though, as Walker took charge to dismiss the other set-piece candidates and fire a wicked ball that flashed across goal. Matabaro’s outstretched boot was the first to make contact, somehow finding its way through the crowd to smuggle over the line for 2-1.
Six minutes later, provider looked to turn scorer as Walker’s run saw her ride a brace of challenges before drawing another save from the visiting keeper. And Freeman was unlucky to see her composed effort from twenty yards tipped narrowly wide at the very last second.
Sucker Punch
By now though, St Albans were throwing bodies forward to try and claw their way back into the game – and so came the cruellest of sucker punches with just five minutes left on the clock.
Following a series of corners, a decent attempt from just outside the penalty area looked to be comfortably dropping into Thomas’ expectant arms, until a late deflection gave her no chance, with the ball bouncing past for a second equaliser from St Albans’ second attempt on goal.
It was a bitter pill to swallow for Barking & Dagenham, who had worked hard for victory and deserved more on the balance of play.
Two away games follow for the district side as they travel to Hackney and Westminster before the month’s end. A pair of wins from those games is now essential if they wish to hold onto the London Girls’ League title they have proudly held since 2018.
Barking & Dagenham: Amaya Amaning (Warren), Pearl Brown (Rush Green), Elizabeth Dimitrova (James Cambell), Zoe Freeman (Rush Green), Kadie Gibbs (James Cambell), Mia Green (Southwood), Aysia Matabaro (Roding), Chioma Musa-Onyeka (St Peter’s), Lara Sousa Franco (St Peter’s), Erin Taylor (The Leys), Honey Thomas (James Cambell), Hazel Walker (Parsloes)