Barkingside 1 May & Baker 1

Thurlow Nunn Division One South, Wednesday 31st August

I was over at Cricklefield for the first time this campaign and saw a late Dan Barth strike deny hosts Barkingside all three points and keep May & Baker's unbeaten start to the season in tact after a niggly encounter in Seven Kings.

Both sides had played five games in the league so far this season, Side had only won one of those games although had drawn three but they were coming into this contest off the back of two disappointing losses against Frenford and Burnham Ramblers, both without scoring despite creating plenty of openings in both.

Bakers on the other hand had won four out of five and had also progressed in the FA Vase at the weekend after stunning Step Five Stotfold on penalties, and they were also on a three game winning run in the league too, so no doubt confidence would be high amongst the visiting side.

However, Bakers were to feel hard done by on the quarter hour mark when the hosts were awarded a spot kick after one of the attackers for Side (sorry I failed to see who) was fouled as he appeared to be about to enter the penalty area on the right hand side, and the assistant on the near side informed the referee that he was just inside the box and so a penalty was given.

Two things, firstly, was it a foul, and secondly, was it inside the box? Both were debatable at best, and it left the visitors frustrated, but it was given as a penalty so it gave the hosts the chance to edge ahead, and also Harrison Burke saw his spot kick saved by Seb Barford, Burke managed to bundle home the rebound, with keeper Barford shouting at his defence 'Help me out here lads'. The defence probably should have reacted better than they did and Burke should not really have had the chance to bundle the rebound home, but it meant Side had an early advantage.

That appeared to be enough as well for the home side to take all the points as well, the game remained bitty, niggly and lacking of quality throughout, with both sides not hitting their heights either, especially the home side who after the start they had had so far this season would have expected more from themselves that is for sure.

But, just like Sunday, Bakers showed great character to stay in games they were not at their best and towards the end of the contest began to finally show some energy, and after a close call of two managed to find a leveller to grab a decent point if truth be told when substitute Barth found himself free inside the box, and he rammed home a powerful effort into the roof of the net in the 87th minute, and preserve Bakers unbeaten start to the season.

It wasn't the greatest of games but Side will be disappointed to have not taken all three points after leading for so long, but Bakers will be happy to have got something from the game after being pretty off colour for the majority of the contest, and it leaves Side down in 12th with six points from six games, whereas Bakers are up in fourth with fourteen from six games, and two points off the top of the table.

Full time Barkingside 1 May & Baker 1