Thurrock 1-1 Barking & Dagenham
GASCOIGNE’S VIOLETTE SHARPE provided the cutting edge for Barking & Dagenham as the midfielder popped up for a late equaliser against rivals Thurrock, extending the district girls’ unbeaten run in the competition to thirteen games. On a blustery morning in Corringham, the hosts took the lead via an own goal with just twelve minutes left on the clock. However, Sharpe’s brave finish ten minutes later meant a share of the spoils in the West Essex derby.
With strong winds at their backs, and the slope favouring the visitors, Barking & Dagenham fancied their chances.
Miquellah Meade found herself running clear of the home defence after just three minutes, only to be denied by a brilliant one-on-one save.
A settling-in period followed as both teams struggled to find any rhythm in the difficult conditions: however, it was Meade again who was thwarted in the same fashion in the twelfth minute by an excellent block in the area.
Denied
Soon after, Ruby Abela played Ellie Mai Morgan in behind from the right flank, the district skipper then seeing her goal-bound effort balloon off the back of the keeper for a corner.
As the half wore on, Barking & Dagenham dominated territory, pinning Thurrock back into their own half during a dangerous ten-minute spell. Meade, Morgan and Sharpe all saw attempts saved in a splendid display by the home stopper.
Despite their myriad attempts, the visitors couldn’t find a way through though and went into the interval ruing their failure to turn conditions to their advantage.
Now Thurrock had the wind and slope behind them as Barking & Dagenham prepared for a siege. In the end, the onslaught didn’t materialise as the visitors continued from where they left off.
Two minutes into the second half, Morgan burst through to latch onto Kaltrina Ibrahimi’s through-ball. It wouldn’t sit right for the Henry Green forward as she was forced out wide, before being frustrated by a late, late tackle.
Another Save
Another great diving save from Sharpe’s dangerous effort five minutes later almost provided the breakthrough as a second Thurrock keeper picked up from where the first left off.
The hosts threatened on the break though, and although efforts on goal were few and far between, the pressure, good play and the weather finally combined to take their toll: an in-swinging corner from the left looked to be falling into the area, ripe for a comfortable clearance, when late movement caught the visiting defence off-guard for what looked to be a decisive own goal.
Instead of panicking, Barking & Dagenham literally rode the storm for a few minutes before swapping personnel and formation, pushing Sharpe up alongside Morgan up top. Within a couple of minutes more, the move paid off.
When Meade was fouled bursting through on the half-way line, Kirsten McNaughton strode forward to take the resultant free-kick. Her set-piece from wide right fell straight to the feet of Morgan deep inside the opposition box. A touch and a well-struck shot then thundered down off the underside of the bar. Ordinarily, the ball would have bounced in but the wind held it up on the line to deny Morgan once more – until Sharpe reacted first to charge in and smash the loose ball in from point-blank range.
That now leaves both teams knowing that if they win their remaining group games, they will be promoted into the medal competition later in the season. Next up in the London Girls’ League for Barking & Dagenham is the visit of Barnet on the 23rd March. Two days before, Gloucester will be the visitors in a friendly match at Robert Clack Leisure Centre.
Barking & Dagenham: Mei Wang (Henry Green); Miquellah Meade (Henry Green); Kirsten McNaughton (George Carey); Ellie Mai Morgan (Henry Green); Violette Sharpe (Gascoigne); Elishah-Oliviae Mintah Adarkwah (George Carey); Kaltrina Ibrahimi (William Ford); Ruby Abela (Dorothy Barley)