Barking & Dagenham 3-2 Basildon

SIMONETTE JOHNSON’S MAIDEN district hat-trick lit up a patchy display from Barking & Dagenham, who dazzled and frustrated in equal measure on their way to a sixth successive victory of the season. Two first half goals were cancelled out as the stuttering hosts twice allowed the visitors back into the game. But a late winner, four minutes from time, brought the St Peter’s forward her twelfth district goal and Autumnal bragging rights over their Essex League opponents.

The home side began well, with Johnson flashing wide after just forty-six seconds when skipper Aaliyah Felix robbed back possession from a flaky goal-kick.

Wonderful

Theresa Ezea fired wide moments later, however the early pressure eventually told when Johnson’s dazzling solo run saw her see-saw through the Basildon rearguard for a wonderful individual effort and a 1-0 lead.

Barking & Dagenham though have rarely been tested so far in the campaign, racking up seventeen goals without reply in their previous five wins.

So, when Basildon amped up the intensity, applying pressure of their own, the home side reacted hesitantly, with gaps opening up in crucial areas.

It was route one stuff that got the visitors back in the game, with a drop-kick from the keeper’s hands allowed to bounce between a high midfield and a nervy backline. As the ball made its way towards goal, Basildon reacted the most decisive, sprinting clear before slotting in an equaliser, despite the efforts of Grace Attwood-Adam’s outstretched palm.

Within two minutes, the lead was restored.

Amelia Pike provided the origin, sliding inside her own box to deny another enemy attack, with team-mate Paloma Correia providing back-up. The George Carey winger then sprinted clear, dashing out of the penalty area before thrusting through midfield and prodding the ball out to Felix on the right.

Next, the captain drove deep into Basildon territory with a powerful run, centring for Johnson, unmarked in the middle, who showed calm and poise to restore the lead and conclude a breathless counterattack.

Struggle

On eighteen minutes, Felix stung the keeper’s palms with a well-struck attempt, before picking out Whitney James from the resulting corner for a close-range effort.

Meanwhile, Basildon prodded and probed with a series of breaks and battering rams as the hosts still struggled to organise themselves.

But, whenever the visitors looked set to restore parity, Richard Alibon’s Bella Yorke found a tackle, block or interception to save her side’s blushes. Time and again, the centre back looked second favourite before summoning an outstretched boot or a well-timed lean to deny her opposite number at the vital second. It was a stunning defensive display to mirror that of Johnson at the other end of the pitch.

The latter almost began the second half with a third, when she embarked on another powerful surge before slamming against the post with a stroked finish from twenty yards.

Indeed, after the interval Barking & Dagenham looked much more solid, with Lily Imititikua stepping up to support Yorke and Felix cutting an ever-more influential figure in an unfamiliar central role.

No Chance

The one time Basildon did manage to carve a chance, they scored. It was Yorke again who nearly saved her side, with a near post header to clear a dangerous cross. But no-one was on hand to close down the loose ball, with Basildon reacting first to lob Attwood-Adams, who had no chance as the ball sailed over her head and into the goal.

That was the only sniff that Barking & Dagenham allowed however, with the hosts looking to get back on top throughout the remaining ten minutes.

First, Imititikua’s piercing pass sent Ezea running clear, only for her left-foot finish to pick out the keeper with unerring accuracy.

And Johnson similarly found the gloves as she looked to convert Correia’s corner moments later.

With six minutes remaining, Ezea was felled on the edge of the box. Felix’s resulting free-kick came to nothing before being scrambled clear, and it began to look like Barking & Dagenham would be left scratching their heads, asking how this one got away.

Menace

But then came the decisive moment.

Correia had been a constant menace since returning from the bench in the second half, and once again she dashed through decisively, drawing defenders and causing chaos. A slipped pass inside picked out Johnson, whose first touch took her clear, with the second poked through the keeper’s legs for a deserved last-gasp winner.

The BAD Girls’ one hundred percent record remains intact – for now. It will be tested once again next time out as a talented Merton side are the visitors to Bobby Moore’s for this season’s opening London Girls’ League fixture. But, on the basis of their second half display, there is plenty of cause for optimism for Barking & Dagenham – as long as they heed Basildon’s timely warning.

Barking & Dagenham: Grace Attwood-Adams (The Leys), Zyana Russell (St Peter’s), Paloma Correia (George Carey), Theresa Ezea (St Peter’s), Aaliyah Felix (Goresbrook), Lily-Mae Fisher (Roding), Bella Hines (Richard Alibon), Lily Imititikua (St Peter’s), Whitney James (Rose Lane), Simonette Johnson (St Peter’s), Amelia Pike (Valence), Bella Yorke (Northbury)