STATISTICS

Date: Saturday 5th September 2026
Kick-off: 3pm
Competition: Essex Senior League
Venue: Mayesbrook Park
Attendance: 88
Starters: Lee Haylock, Philip Hayford, Shaye La-Rose, Alfie Attrill, Ali Mansaray ©, Raymond Poku, Uziel Bateki, Michael Dixon, Arion Svarqa, Josh Gruby, Michael Okafor
Substitutes: Fahad Nyanja, Teddy Bowden, Ryan Pickles, Matthew Farrelly, David Collis
Substitutions:
65’ Pickles for Bateki
76’ Collis for Svarqa
81’ Bowden for Dixon
86’ Nyanja for Poku
Goals:
Svarqa 30′ 1-0
Daniel Izekor (Ilford) 36′ 1-1
Okafor 64′ 2-1
Gruby 70′ 3-1
Ryan Pickles Penalty 90’+5 4-1
Yellow cards: Hayford, Okafor
Red cards: None

REPORT

BARKING FELLING GRUBY

Barking bounced back from their disappointment after defeat at Heybridge Swifts with a 4-1 victory over local rivals Ilford. Arion Svarqa opened the scoring before Ilford equalised but second half goals from Okafor, Gruby and Pickles secured the points.

Both sides had good chances around the fifteenth minute mark as Okafor rose highest for Svarqa’s corner but saw his header tipped over the bar. Ilford’s chance a minute or so later was better and they should have taken the lead, Anderson Baro finding an unmarked Daniel Izekor in the box but he sidefooted his effort well wide of the target. Barking then should have taken the lead after 29 minutes as the Blues regained the ball in midfield leading to Svarqa setting a driving Raymond Poku on goal, he turned the defender inside out but slightly off balance smacked the bar with his effort. It was quickly forgotten a moment later as again Barking worked well in midfield with Arion Svarqa turning from provider to goalscorer, driving into the D of the box before shooting low back across Boateng and finding the net with the help of the inside of the post. Much like Monday however Barking were pegged back quickly as they failed to maintain momentum, the Blues failing to clear the ball before Svarqa’s last ditch tackle leading to the ball falling for Izekor to make amends for earlier rifling the ball home on 36. Ilford nearly completed the comeback two minutes later but it was their turn to hit the bar, as a far post corner was controlled before a curling effort was just a bit too high and to Barking’s relief the ball pinged the bar and escaped danger.

The Blues were unimpressive in the first half, some of the credit for which should go to Ilford but the second half saw the Blues much more secure and they were rewarded just before the half way mark – Michael Dixon saw his shot at the near post saved but the resultant corner swung away from the far post and was met by Michael Okafor and his looping header back across left everyone staring as it dipped under the bar for his second goal in as many games. Barking learnt from their first half mistakes and doubled the lead on 70 minutes, Svarqa passing to Dixon who near the edge of the box and with his back to goal passed across to Josh Gruby on the left edge of the box who scored his trademark shot – cutting in before curling an effort across goal and into the bottom right corner of the goal. Ilford missed another very good chance from a far post corner after 73 minutes but Barking defended stoutly with Haylock not even close to being tested.

There was still time for Ilford to add self-inflicted insult to injury, as stopper Boateng launched a punch at the back of Ryan Pickles after cleanly collecting a cross under mild pressure. It was in full view of the referee who sent him off and awarded a penalty Ryan Pickles dusted himself off and shot low and hard into the bottom right corner of the net leaving the outfield player in goal with no chance. It was a bizarre end but Barking will not care as they take all three points with a positive change to their goal difference.

Our next fixture is not until next Saturday (September 12th) when we meet Hullbridge Sports in a FA Vase second qualifying tie at Mayesbrook Park with a 3pm kick-off.

Report source: Trevor Gilbert/Barking FC

Please note that the opinions expressed in this report are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of, nor should be attributed to Barking Football Club.

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