IT WAS DOUBLE DELIGHT for the girls’ district squad as they added a maiden London Girls’ League title to their Essex 7-a-side crown over half-term, beating Southern Counties Cup and Surrey League winners Woking to 1-0 secure top spot. They are joined in first place by Croydon who had a brace of last-gasp victories in their final two games to match Barking & Dagenham’s points tally. This is the first time that Barking & Dagenham have won the London Girls’ League – which is the largest and most prestigious in the country.
The team played 27 games across the season, scoring 67 goals and conceding just 11.
Seventeen wins and nine draws meant that Barking & Dagenham schools remained unbeaten during regulation time. The only defeat happened to Woking in the Southern Counties Cup final, six minutes from the end of extra time. The team were also unlucky to go out on penalties in the South East finals of the national Premier League 9-a-sides (again to Woking).
There were twenty clean sheets for keeper Maria Omotayo and her defence along the way, with only one goal conceded at home all season – and none at the fortress of Barking Abbey.
Emily Brown became the district’s all-time leader scorer as the captain netted the winner in the final game of the season to set a new record of 28 goals.
Eight players in all found the net across the campaign, with Grafton’s Holly Anderson also edging into the top ten on the all-time scorers list.
Most importantly though, the girls have been tremendous ambassadors for their schools and their borough. The management team could not have wished for a better group to work with, both on and off the pitch. The parents too have been incredibly supportive across the year and our thanks go out to everyone involved.