Thurlow Nunn First Division South, Monday 26th February
After no football at the weekend and none since last Tuesday, I needed to get out and do some more games, so Monday night saw me return to Cricklefield since the opening week of the season to watch Barkingside take on May & Baker in a Thurlow Nunn South contest.
Both these sides realistically haven't a lot to play for, the play offs are out of the question, Side were in 15th spot and some twenty six points off fifth placed Wormley Rovers, Bakers were only three places and three points further on, so pretty much no chance of grabbing a post season spot, both were much closer to the relegation spots mind, although I still think both will be fine in that regard too.
Side were only five points above the bottom three so yes, they do probably need a couple more wins at least to be comfortable, but with everyone beating everyone down there I felt that the hosts didn't have too much to worry about, Bakers had an eight point buffer to the bottom three so I reckon one more win or two will definitely give them plenty of breathing space in that regard too.
One thing that maybe worrying the hosts recently though is their form since the turn of the year, only two points from a possible eighteen although with games against the likes of Clapton CFC, Clapton, Benfleet, Harlow Town and Dunmow Town, all sides bar Clapton who are in the top five, this was a truly awful run of fixtures for them, so take that into account.
Could they grab their first win in seven against a Bakers side who since the turn of the year had twelve points from a possible twenty seven, that's four wins and five defeats, and only one of those defeats came against a top five side in Benfleet, so very inconsistent form, meaning the hosts fancied a chance in this one depending what Bakers team turned of course.
The opening half hour or so was pretty uneventful with very little in the way of quality, and I was sitting there thinking how creative I may have to be with this blog with not a lot to write about, but, thereafter things perked up shall we say, beginning in the 36th minute when the only real moment of quality up to that point when Jack Allen netted his first goal for Side after curling home a superb free kick to give the hosts the lead.
And five minutes later Allen netted his second goal for the club with another superlative effort from range into the same corner, and suddenly Side had opened up a 2-0 lead, but, they were unable to go into the break two goals up because Bakers managed to find a goal a minute before the break when Idris Aminu burst down the right and he squared a ball across goal for Bobby Breen to apply a finishing touch at the far post.
This would have been extremely frustrating for the hosts who had a habit of giving up leads this season, so to concede so close to the break meant doubt was sown into the back's of their minds, could they go on and net the next goal because that was now crucial in how this game would end up.
Side actually began the second period on the front foot but were unable to find that illusive third goal, and then in the 66th minute came a leveller from Bakers, and what a messy goal it was for Side to concede, as Bakers skipper Anthony Cooke swung a free kick into the box which appeared to miss everyone and seemed to be heading in, but was kept out just about, however, Dan Jones, ex Barkingside of course, was on hand to prod the loose ball home.
From that moment onwards the visitors confidence really grew as the hosts diminished, and ten minutes after levelling, the 76th minute, Bakers had turned this one around as another free kick from Captain Cooke (sorry I had to say it!!!) caused chaos amongst the hosts backline, and Bobby Breen was there to fire home from close range and now the hosts needed to find something to get anything from this game.
They could not though, and with five minutes left Bakers sealed the points after they were awarded a penalty for a sinical foul inside the box, and Laurie Wiggins stepped up slot home the spot kick for their fourth of the game, although moments later Joao Rodrigues was sent off for a second yellow after an apparent trip, meaning the visitors would finish the game with ten men, but it mattered not really as Bakers recorded a fifth win of 2024.
It's three points that took Bakers into the top ten and eleven points away from danger, for Side it's now two points from seven games in 2024, they need to stop this poor run of form although they come up against Wormley Rovers, another top five side, next so it won't get any easier in that one!!!
Full time Barkingside 2 May & Baker 4
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