BARKING & DAGENHAM district girls began their campaign in style as they returned from their season opener with four straight wins, no goals conceded and the number one spot in the Eastern Heats of the Southern Counties League Cup. Victories over Wycombe, St Albans, Slough and Dacorum capped off an impressive string of performances that augurs well for the months ahead.
In their opening fixture, Barking & Dagenham came out of the traps sharply, subjecting opponents Wycombe to wave-after-wave of attacks. When the opener came, with just three minutes on the clock, the biggest surprise was that it was not three or four already.
Confident
It was returning striker Simonette Johnson who calmly slotted away the winner, finishing confidently after fellow veterans Abbie Blewitt, Paloma Correia and Aaliyah Felix’s high-press caused panic and confusion in their opponents penalty area.
The experienced foursome continued to push for more, alongside debutante Bella Hines who tested the Wycombe keeper with a low drive from the edge of the box.
At the back, Lily Imititikua and Amelia Pike enjoyed their first taste of district action – but it was the other end of the pitch where the action remained.
The closest Barking & Dagenham came to doubling their lead was when Correia’s hustle and bustle carved out an opportunity for skipper Felix, her close-range effort cannoning back off the woodwork late on.
The captain was not deterred however, pouncing in the opening stages of the next fixture against St Albans to give her side the lead. It was Blewitt’s forceful run that forced the issue, driving deep before sliding a diagonal ball in behind the hosts’ backline. An immaculate first touch into space drew the hopeful keeper forward, but Felix wanted it more as she got there first to poke past for the lead.
Chaos
Meanwhile, on the other flank Correia was causing chaos. Every time the ball came her way, the only thought on her mind was to skip past her marker and penetrate the opposition’s box.
On her fourth or fifth foray forward, she finally earned the space she needed, scampering clean through to slot away her second district goal – and her first of 2024/25.
Lilly-Mae Fisher, Felix and Hines all had further chances… but it was left-back Theresa Ezea who provided the icing on the cake as she emphatically volleyed home Blewitt’s corner to give the dominant scoreline the weight the performance deserved.
Slough were next to be put to the sword as – buoyed by her fine strike in the previous game – Ezea was deployed upfront to see what happened. The answer: two early goals to give Barking & Dagenham their third win of the day.
The first came from following up Whitney James’ edge-of-the-box effort. And the second followed soon after as she slammed home from a central position six yards out.
Test
That meant a draw against unbeaten Dacorum would ensure a first-place finish – although that would be a stern test for a Barking & Dagenham side on their maiden district Saturday.
The BAD Girls began brightly, pinning back their opponents and threatening down the flanks through the probing of Felix and Johnson.
The latter fired wide in the opening minute, with a succession of balls into the box testing the Hertfordshire side’s backline.
The breakthrough came at the halfway point however when Blewitt’s brilliant feet danced through congested centre, forcing the ball into Ezea’s path.
A fiercely struck shot proved too hot to handle for the Dacorum keeper, deflecting in off a strong outstretched glove to give Ezea her fourth in three games and Barking & Dagenham a crucial lead.
From then on, it was about communication, concentration and work-rate. At the heart of the action was Bella Yorke, who completed an immaculate individual afternoon, sweeping up at the back, remaining calm under pressure and mopping up anything that came her way.
Correia and Ezea dropped in either side, themselves offering further attacking options from deep, but also bolstering the back-line with their pace and strength on the ball.
Shop Shut
The shop remained shut for Dacorum, who could not find a route through to Grace Attwood-Adams goal despite throwing numbers forward late on.
In fact, Barking & Dagenham did not concede a shot on target – let alone a goal – as the dominance of their displays ensured they more than merited their table-topping status.
It was a great start for the newly formed team. And one that means they now progress to the overall grand final at Oxford City FC on 26th April, alongside the top teams from the West and Central competitions.
On this evidence, there is every chance of more success in the Spring!
Barking & Dagenham: Grace Attwood-Adams (The Leys), Abbie Blewitt (Hunters Hall), 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)