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This single goal defeat from the penalty spot ended our recent good league run and meant in four league and cup meetings this season we failed to overcome Concord and have only registered a single goal which came in our league meeting last December. This takes our overall record against Concord to P13 W7 D1 L5 F26 A23. On the playing front Dave Ross named an unchanged starting XI from last weeks match at Hullbridge, making a welcome return to the bench from injury was Carl Paul who came through ninety minutes playing for the Reserves on Tuesday evening.
Both teams had been sent out fired up for the game and there was no quarter given from either team and for a good portion of the first half the game was played at what can only be described as “premiership pace” with great pace and intensity not normally found at this level. Our first clear opportunity occurs after the quarter hour mark when a Neil Matthews cross beats the visiting defence, Jimmy Noakes gets his head to the ball and his effort is saved by Concord custodian James Hussey. However, the Barking striker cannot force the rebound home. Concord return the favour in-kind when a long ball forward finds the nippy Michael Begg but the former Brentwood striker is firmly denied by Alan Lethbridge’s impressive tackle. The home captain enjoyed another solid game at the heart of the back four and has strengthened our defensive spine since he returned from Clapton. With 29 minutes gone the visitors took a lead they never surrendered when a shot from Kevin Mully was deflected past the post by Matthews with the aid of his shoulder. Danny Heale stepped up to fire the ball past Stone for his 33rd goal of the campaign, although the Barking keeper went the right way the power of Heale’s kick did not give him a chance to stop it. Nine minutes from the break the home side come close to equalising: a long throw by Alex Simm is flicked on by Aaron Gayle to Noakes who swivels and shoots. But his firm shot is blocked by Hussey with a fine save and left no opportunity of a rebound.
The second period saw both defences on top and for Blues supporters yet again Lethbridge shone out with his defending. Of the early exchanges Concord nearly caught the home defence napping with a quickly taken free kick and a run to the line which was smartly snuffed out before any real threat materialised. For the home side their best two opportunities came through hard work and endeavour. Firstly, on 57 a excellent Matthews ball into the box is headed back across goal by Bradley Thomas and Noakes out muscling the defenders around him makes contact with the ball but not enough to direct it goal wards and it screws horribly wide. With 68 on the clock Abraham Adejokun chases down what looks like a lost cause, but saves the ball from going into touch – clear of the chasing pack he fires in a good cross which finds the head of sub Fabio Jesus. Jesus who has only been on the field two minutes meets the ball firmly and appears goal bound but Mully is there to block it for a corner. After that the home side were unable to create a real clear cut chance and with the clock running down Duane Miller was introduced as a third striker in place of defender Daniel Scadden but this gamble did not turn up trumps and unfortunately went down the A13 with our opponents.
Next Saturday Barking entertain old rivals Clapton and will be looking for three points, this is followed by another match with old foes on Tuesday March 25th when we make the short trip to Rush Green to face Romford who no doubt will be looking to avenge their Boxing Day defeat at our hands
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