Barking & Dagenham 1-1 Basildon
A HEROIC DISPLAY FROM Grafton goalkeeper George Miller kept Barking & Dagenham boys undefeated at the start of their new season.
From the outset, Basildon came at the hosts in waves of attacks from all angles, but each time they found Miller in inspired form. He turned into Superman in football boots, with four point blank one on one saves – each one being better than the last.
The home side – possibly feeling the effect of Thursday’s Chelsea game – struggled to gain any momentum, and Miller aided by his sidekick Dexter Douglas at left back kept the visitors at bay. It seemed that Grafton and St Vincent’s were taking on all of Basildon by themselves.
Dangerous
Half time arrived, and after thanking their goalkeeper, the rest of the team began to move forward. The Northbury pairing of Lesecond Yeutembip and Benjamin Oluyemmy started to put dangerous crosses into the Basildon penalty area, with the former narrowly missing from a free kick 20 yards out.
The introduction of Shaun Parker from Richard Alibon also provided the home side with an extra threat up front, and his first time shot was saved by the Basildon keeper.
After surviving the post half-time storm, the visitors once again settled in and began to besiege the home defence. Wave after wave of orange shirts piled forward, and it seemed only a matter of time before the breakthrough arrived.
Surprise
With seven minutes to go, the deadlock was finally broken. However, against the run of play it was the hosts who took the lead. A mistake in the Basildon defence gifted Parker the ball on the edge of the box, and his low shot had just enough to beat the fingertips of the visitor’s keeper for a surprise 1-0 lead.
Defeat however would have been harsh on Basildon, whose endeavour deserved a reward. With a minute to go, a mix up in the Barking & Dagenham defence presented an opportunity for the visitor to equalise, which they did with a sublime chip from the edge of the box.
It was going to take something spectacular to get past Miller on this day, and the Oranges found it with just seconds to spare.
Next up for Barking and Dagenham is the first round of the National Cup at Robert Clack against Swale on Saturday 24th April. All the best to our boys!
Barking & Dagenham: George Miller (Grafton), Ruari Stanton (Northbury), Marvellous Oppong (Northbury), Lesecond Yeutembip (Northbury), Benjamin Oluyemmy (Northbury), Chibuzo Okoli (William Ford), Dexter Douglas (St Vincent’s), Jayden Ikechukwu (St Vincent’s), Ibrahim Msabah (George Carey), Shaun Parker (Richard Alibon), Jahcorey Blair-Charles (George Carey), Chinoso Ibeh (St Peter’s), Denzel Decardi-Nelson (St Peter’s)