FOR THE SECOND SEASON in succession, Barking & Dagenham suffered penalty shootout heartbreak as they crashed out in the South East Finals of the national ESFA 9-a-side competition at the hands of fellow Southern Counties Cup finalists Woking. Holly Anderson’s well-taken opener had given Barking & Dagenham a well-deserved lead: however, a late set-piece levelled the scores before the spot-kick showdown saw the Surrey side convert their tenth attempt en-route to the regional title.
With a reshuffled side, Barking & Dagenham began slowly in their opening encounter with Barnet, struggling to find any real shape or rhythm.
Miquellah Meade had Barking & Dagenham’s best chance when she almost latched onto a loose ball inside the opposition penalty area.
But it was Barnet who had the clearest chances, twice forcing Maria Omotayo into smart stops in the wet conditions.
A win against Chelmsford in the next tie was crucial if Barking & Dagenham were to progress beyond the group stage. Accordingly, the district side stepped up the pace, with Ellie Mai Morgan finding the side-netting early on.
Emily Brown’s fierce drive from distance saw the opposition keeper spill the loose ball and Morgan was alert, laying off to Kayla Grain before squaring to Anderson – whose shot went wide from mid-range.
No Mistake
Anderson made no mistake though moments later when, with seconds remaining, a flowing team move saw Grain flash another cross into the danger area for the Grafton striker to convert.
Three points secured, a draw against Haringey in the final round-robin fixture would be enough for both sides to progress. And so it proved to be as another clean sheet set up a semi-final tie with Group A winners Woking.
The Essex title-holders were on the front-foot from the outset, causing problems with every attack. Brown and Grace Young took control of the centre of the pitch, with Grain and Meade adding penetration down the flanks.
Barking & Dagenham’s midfield continued to apply pressure as the game wore on, creating a handful of half-chances for the lively front pair of Morgan and Anderson.
Belligerant
In the end, it was Meade’s incessant badgering of the opposition that won possession before the belligerent winger poked through for Anderson in space – who showed great composure under pressure to calmly net her tenth goal of the season.
Woking drew level with their only shot on goal: a fiercely struck free-kick form the edge of the penalty area that flew into the roof of the net, leaving Omotayo with no chance.
Despite late Barking & Dagenham pressure, the dramatic finale came after the end of regulation time. With twenty penalties taken in total, it was Woking who edged the contest, running out 9-8 winners.
The practise proved invaluable for Woking. In the final, they defeated holders Haringey in similar fashion before progressing to the national finals in June.
Barking & Dagenham: Emily Brown (Godwin); Kirsten McNaughton (George Carey); Miquelleh Meade (Henry Green); Ellie Mai Morgan (Henry Green); Ianna Msekwa (George Carey); Maria Omotayo (Roding); Grace Young (Hunters Hall); Elishah-Oliviae Mintah Adarkwah (George Carey); Holly Anderson (Grafton)