BARKING & DAGENHAM’S DISTRICT TEAMS were full of smiles as they celebrated three regional titles at their annual Presentation Evening at May & Baker’s this week. After a lengthy wait for the final result of the season to come in, the boys’ side were finally crowned Essex Finch League winners for the first time since 2013. Meanwhile, the girls’ team were presented with the London Girls’ League trophy to add to their Essex 7-a-side win earlier in the campaign.
For the boys, it was a closely fought contest through the season with little between the teams. The campaign started back in October when the boys sufffered a 3-2 defeat against Thurrock, as goals from Ukonu and Mann proved in vain.
But the boys started 2018 with a brilliant, battling performance to defeat Newham by the odd goal in five thanks to goals from Fabamifobee, Solomon and Zafer.
Comfortable
Two weeks later the boys were on form again and secured their second Essex League win by beating Basildon 7-2. Ukonu’s four-goal salvo led the way, along with strikes from Zafer, Shehu and Klimas, as Barking & Dagenham ran out comfortable winners.
Then in February Barking and Dagenham travelled to Chelmsford and gained an emphatic 6-1 victory that included a Klimas hat-trick and a brace from Mukasa.
A week later the Essex League title was all but sealed with a 7-0 rout of local rivals Redbridge. Ukonu hit a hat-trick in the win, with further goals from Shehu, Zafer, Mintah and Kosoko seeing Barking & Dagenham eventually secure the shield.
But Barking & Dagenham were crowned and Dave Moore said: “The boys had played some stunning football, scoring 25 goals and only conceding eight. Bangurah was as solid as a rock and Abhi Pal performed brilliantly in goal all season. Medine impressed with his creativity and motivation and Inayat, Balogun and Fabamifobee played a crucial part the team’s success by stepping in whenever required. This was a reflection of the wonderful team spirit in the squad.”
The girls’ team also celebrated a county title as they overcame the challenge of Chelmsford and Thurrock to earn a maiden Essex championship. Kayla Grain, Grace Young, Ellie Mai Morgan and Emily Brown all found the net as they ran out winners by a clear six points.
Tighter
The London Girls’ League title was much tighter though with Barking & Dagenham, Croydon and Woking all scrapping it out to see who could finish on top spot. In the decisive match, Emily Brown’s curling corner flew straight in to clinch first place for another first-time win.
The girls team remained unbeaten during regulation time throughout the season, winning seventeen of their twenty-seven games along the way, drawing nine and keeping twenty clean sheets. Sixty-seven goals were scored, with only eleven in return as the girls also reached the final of the Southern Counties Cup and the semi-final of the Premier League South East tournament.
Skipper Emily Brown became Barking & Dagenham’s all-time leading scorer with her match-winning strike in the final match of 2018.