Barking & Dagenham 1-1 Basildon

BARKING & DAGENHAM U11S PRODUCED their best performance of the season on Saturday in a 1-1 draw against Basildon. Emis Gasperavicius’ late strike secured a point for the side although their display merited much more. 

Barking & Dagenham started well and Gasperavicius had the game’s first effort on goal when he rose highest to meet Kien Connelly’s cross. However, the William Bellamy man was unable to get enough on the header and it was saved by Liam McKenize in the Basildon goal.

At the other end, Tyler Rice had to be at his best when Luke Nash was set free by Liam Jones’ clever ball but the Southwood keeper made himself big and thwarted the danger. Jones then tested Rice from twenty yards but again the Barking & Dagenham stopper was equal to his effort.

Barking & Dagenham continued to impress and almost went in front. Basildon failed to clear a Charlie Rich cross and, after some pinball in the area, Connelly saw his fizzing half volley fly narrowly wide. Favour Fawunmi then sent in a teasing centre but no one from the home side was able to get on the end of it.

Despite dominating possession, a defensive lapse saw the visitors take the lead as half time approach. Noah Louis was able to steal the ball in the centre of the park. He set Jones up and he gave Rice no chance with a fierce drive that flew into the top corner. The goal was against the run of play but it was enough to send the visitors in at the break in front.

Barking & Dagenham started the second half sluggishly and were nearly punished by Jones within minutes of the restart. Louis teed up Jones but the West Ham striker dragged his shot wide of the upright.

The let-off seemed to wake up Barking & Dagenham and they almost drew level when Rich tried his luck from twenty yards. Connelly saw his shot deflected wide and, from the resulting corner, Harry Milburn’s goal bound effort was well saved by McKenzie.

The home side started to play some brilliant football and pinned the visitors back but were unable to find a way through some dogged defending. Amin Karim almost created a chance with a mazy run but his shot lacked any real power to trouble McKenzie. Fawunmi had a snap shot fly over the bar before another corner was bundled away by the Basildon defenders.

Basildon were now happy to sit back and try to hit Barking & Dagenham on the break but they were unable to kill the game off and, with such a narrow lead, Barking & Dagenham continued to push for an equaliser. Rich tried his luck with another long range effort before Gasperavicius saw his low drive deflected wide.

With time running out, the home side were rewarded for their endeavours with a leveller and no one could argue that it was fully deserved. Gasperavicius picked the ball up in the right hand touchline, skipped past two challenges before sending in a cross-cum-shot that evaded everyone and sailed over McKenize into the net.

Buoyed by the goal, the home side swarmed forward in search of a winner and only a dubious decision stopped them from taking the lead. Connelly’s inch perfect ball was expertly bought down by Karim who, in turn, cut inside his marker and fired the ball into the bottom corner. However, his and his side’s joy was short-lived as the visitors assistant referee had raised his flag. It was a very tight decision but, to their credit, the home side accepted it and continued to press for a winner.

However, it wasn’t to be and Barking & Dagenham had to settle for a point. It was a hard earned point but, on the balance of play, the very least that they deserved. The side will now try to build on the display when they travel to Havering on Saturday in their next Essex Finch game.

Barking & Dagenham: Dean (D Barley), Rice (Southwood) Onajobi (Becontree),Karim (Parsloes), Milburn (Five Elms), Gasperavicius (W Bellamy), Connolly, Martin, Rich (Valence), Fawunmi (H Hall),  Stanton (Eastbury)