(Action from Barking's win over Athletic Newham at Mayesbrook Park in the Essex Senior League)
The final day in February saw me over Mayesbrook Park for a rare double header so thought I would get two games for the price of one, Barking U23s were in action first up against Takeley Reserves in the Quarter Finals of the Len Cordell Memorial Trophy, and then Barking took on Athletic Newham in the Essex Senior League after that, shall we see what happened in both games, starting with that Quarter Final.....
Barking U23s Vs Takeley Reserves (Len Cordell Memorial Trophy Quarter Finals)
These two sides are 7th and 5th respectively in the ESL Reserve Division, but they were playing for a last four spot in this competition, the winners would take on Rayleigh Town Reserves who saw off Aveley U23s in their Quarter Final back in December, this was the final Quarter Final to be completed after Bowers & Pitsea and Billericay Town Reserves had set up the other Semi Final after they both won their Quarter Finals in mid Janaury.
Barking themselves actually lost their First Round tie at home to Hashtag United Reserves back in September on penalties after a 2-2 draw, but Tags Reserves then folded so Barking took their place in this Quarter Final against a Takeley side who smashed May & Baker Reserves 9-0 in the First Round, five points separated the teams in the Reserve Division, with Takeley above Barking in the table as said before.
However, Barking's form this side of new year hasn't been great, in nine games since the turn of the year they have played nine games, and only drawn two of them and lost the rest, Takeley in the same period have only played a third of the games Barking have, three, and have lost two of those and won one of them, so neither side were in great form, who would find that edge in this one to take their place in the Semi Final, the league match at Mayesbrook Park saw Barking run out 3-2 winners back in October, so it would be a tight game you'd suspect.
Barking started the game on the front foot, but they were undone by a long ball over the top of their defence in the 11th minute and allowed the visitors to run onto this and slot home and take the lead against the run of play, the Blues though kept attacking and creating openings and just before the half hour mark levelled with a deflected long range effort, and seven minutes before the break they deservedly lead thanks to a lovely strike across goal into the far corner.
The hosts then started the second half on the front foot and continued to knock on the visitors door, but then switched off and allowed Takeley to level the score up at 2-2 just before the hour mark, a long ball saw the defence stop and allow two visiting players to just run in behind and one of those stooped to head past a totally exposed keeper, but the hosts then regained the lead twenty minutes into the second period, a brilliant strike thumped off the post, moments later another strike hit the bar before the rebound was blasted home from close range.
Then came two moments of madness from the double goal scorer for Takeley, he prevented the keeper throwing out by putting his hand up to stop the ball after one of his teammates was on the floor injured, and then a few minutes later he kicked the ball out of the keepers hands as he attempted to clear from them, and then stuck the ball into the net after the whistle had gone, second yellow, and an early bath, madness.
Barking though could not find that killer fourth, and five minutes into stoppage time Takeley took the tie to penalties after an absolute belter from range which flew into the top corner, Barking only themselves to blame for not sealing it in normal time, but they now had to endure the dreaded spot kicks to see who prevailed.
The penalty shoot out that followed was just as dramatic as the game itself, Takeley took control of it early on and had match point at 3-2, but missed, meaning it went to sudden death, at 5-5 Takeley struck the underside of the bar and the ball was close to going over, it may well have done, but it was ruled not over the line, allowing The Blues to strike home the winning kick and take the tie 6-5 on penalties, a brilliant cup tie and a very entertaining watch for sure.
Full time Barking U23s 3 Takeley Reserves 3 (Barking U23s won 6-5 on penalties)
So it's Barking who prevail, just, and they take on Rayleigh Town Reserves in the semi final, and the winner of that players either Bowers & Pitsea or Billericay Town Reserves in the final.
Phew, follow that Barking & Athletic Newham in the ESL Premier, they would have to go a long way to better the first game, but if this game was anything like the corresponding fixture at Parsloes then we would be in for a treat, let's see how it went.....
Barking Vs Athletic Newham (Essex Senior Premier)
This pitted play off and promotion chasing Barking against relegation threatened Athletic Newham, The Blues had been on a nine match unbeaten run in all competitions until they came unstuck at Hullbridge Sports in midweek, Newham themselves began the year in fine style, beating Benfleet 4-1 at home but since then they have only picked up two points from six league games and have dropped alarmingly close to the relegation zone as a result.
Barking then would have been confident of bouncing back from their disappointing loss at Hullbridge on Tuesday, but when these two met back in September Newham held a 3-0 lead until a second half fightback of epic proportions saw Barking run out 4-3 winners, so these two have played out a rather entertaining encounter already this season, we all hoped it would be a similar story in this one.
The hosts though started this one slowly and it was Newham who had the better of the game early on, but, Barking's first real attack saw them grab the lead in the 14th minute, Akiljo Balliu burst down the left side brilliantly before he crossed along the deck for Alfie Attrill to time his run perfectly and slide in to send the ball past visiting keeper Harvey Simpson, and the Blues now had a slender advantage.
It was an advantage that Newham really should have wiped out on more than one occasion, but they just did not have anyone in the final third to convert openings that came their way, Barking did have a decent chance to double their lead just before half time, but that would have been very cruel on the visitors, but twenty minutes after the break, Barking did double their lead as a lovely through ball from Attrill sent substitute Celeany Filho in on goal, and he kept his composure well before slotting beyond Simpson.
Newham kept creating openings but were wasteful, and when Abdi Ali struck the post, you kind of thought it wasn't going to be their day, and in the 90th minute Barking were given the chance to increase their lead further still when after Saliu Lo Seye was brought down inside the box after he pinched the ball off a defender, another substitute Ryan Pickles thumped home the resulting penalty and seal a 3-0 win for the home side.
The scoreline flattered Barking if truth be told, but they did what they needed to do in this game and bounce back from that loss in midweek, taking them up to third in the table and put a six point gap to sixth placed Woodford Town who sit just outside the play off zone, they are eight points behind leaders Little Oakley but with ten games to go they will be hard to overhaul.
For Newham it was a tough loss to take, they really didn't deserve to lose 3-0 but wasteness in front of goal mainly cost them here, and the defeat sees them drop into the bottom two after West Essex remarkable win at Halstead Town today, they are a point from safety now and only four points off 15th placed Sporting Bengal, so it's going to be some fight between the five sides all down their trying to avoid the drop.
Full time Barking 3 Athletic Newham 0
Well that was a fun day, two games, nine goals, and plenty of drama, thanks to all who took the time to read this blog, I hope you enjoyed it!!!
No comments:
Post a Comment