Woking Development 0-2 Barking & Dagenham
KEEPER MEI WANG saved a second-half penalty to ensure Barking & Dagenham girls kept a third clean-sheet in four games as they wrapped up a comfortable win over Woking’s Development Squad. At the other end, a goal in each half from Lily-Mae Elsey and captain Ellie Mai Morgan made sure of the win so that their side goes into the Christmas break full of festive cheer.
The visitors were given an ideal fillip with barely a minute played when Miquellah Meade’s early burst into the box brought panic in the Woking rear-guard. The ball eventually was bundled through to Elsey who turned it goal-wards, via a significant deflection, into the bottom corner.
Further Chance
Elsey had a further chance five minutes later when Elishah Mintah-Adarkwah’s run found the Northbury forward in space, only for her shot to be charged down inside the box.
On fourteen minutes, Meade let fly from twenty yards with a shot saved low to the keeper’s left. And two minutes later, Jessie English’s drilled cross from the right flank just evaded Elsey at the far post.
Meade increasingly began to dominate midfield, spreading play wide to Kirsten McNaughton. The George Carey winger tried to wrap her foot around the ball whilst moving at pace – but couldn’t do enough to send her shot on target.
And in the final minute of the first half, a typically dangerous corner from Kaltrina Ibrahimi glanced off Sharpe for Mintah-Adarkwah to scuff her volley just wide.
Sensing the potential for more joy from wide areas, Barking & Dagenham pressed to extend their lead in the second half and almost achieved their goal instantly as Sharpe and Ibrahimi exchanged passes until the former’s shot spiralled wide from the edge of the box.
Opportunity
The roles were reversed a minute later when Sharpe fed Ibrahimi for a chance before Morgan and Elsey’s inter-play up-top brokered another opportunity for Ibrahimi who saw her attempt blocked with a last-ditch slide.
From the resultant throw-in, the visitors continued to lay siege to the Woking goal as Elsey and Sharpe passed their way through the home defences to tee up Morgan, whose fierce drive was tipped over from close range.
A chance for the hosts to claw their way back into the game was spurned eight minutes into the half. Caught out by a long-ball over the top, a forceful challenge inside the box left the referee with little choice but to award the spot-kick. Wang held her nerve however, patting away the attempt without having to move from her starting position, and repelling the ball to safety.
Made to Pay
Woking were made to pay just two minutes later when English’s run led to Elsey picking up possession in the inside-right position. An intelligent square-ball found the onrushing Morgan who took a touch before slotting calmly into the bottom corner from twelve yards.
Meade’s header from Ibrahimi’s corner almost extended the lead; as did Sharpe’s rasping half-volley from the edge of the box.
And with five minutes to go, Meade embarked on an amazing run which saw her fall over three times whilst still retaining possession, continuing her run forward, and ending in a well-hit drive that would have been just rewards for her perpetual industry and determination.
Next up for the district girls are matches against Jo Richardson and Gloucester before attention turns to defending their London Girls’ League crown.
Barking & Dagenham: Mei Wang (Henry Green); Miquellah Meade (Henry Green); Kirsten McNaughton (George Carey); Ellie Mai Morgan (Henry Green); Violette Sharpe (Gascoigne); Jessie English (Roding); Lily-Mae Elsey (Northbury); Elishah-Oliviae Mintah Adarkwah (George Carey); Kaltrina Ibrahimi (William Ford)