STATISTICS

Date: Saturday 23rd November 2024
Kick-off: 3pm
Competition: Essex Senior League
Venue: Crofters
Attendance: 50
Starters: Dan Purdue, Charlie Thomson, Akiljo Balliu, Fahad Nyanja, Pat Ahern ©, Henry Mabassa, Jaiden Putman, Teddy Stacey, Juwon Akintunde, Izzy Bademosi, Sam Shaban
Substitutes: Deivi Kreka, Omar Eisa, Joshua Blaize-Carr, Jerold Cobblah, Ellis Lawson
Substitutions:
66’ Cobblah for Bademosi
87’ Eisa for Shaban
87’ Kreka for Akintunde
90+1 Blaize-Carr for Balliu
Goals:
Shaban 9’ 1-0
Akintunde 52’ 2-0
Yellow cards:  None 
Red cards: None

REPORT

BARKING ‘RAIN’ VICTORIOUS AT SAWBRIDGEWORTH

It was another battling performance in awful wet conditions for Barking but this time they were rewarded for their efforts with a 2-0 win over Sawbridgeworth Town thanks to goals from Sam Shaban and Juwon Akintunde. 

Barking looked better in the early stages and it looked like the scoreline might have been even heavier when after eight minutes Sam Shaban collected the ball from a long throw about 25 yards from goal with plenty of time and he duly punished the opposition, his thunderous effort dipping off home keeper William Kiers who had been caught off his line and smacking the net. 

It was nearly 2-0 minutes later as Akintunde played Jaiden Putman through on goal but his effort was saved by Kiers. Sawbridgeworth nearly contributed to their own downfall after 27 minutes as Teddy Stacey’s low cross was swiped at by a defender in the six-yard box and the ball flew onto the crossbar and bounced away from danger. The Yellows kept their pressure up for the rest of the first half with only more chance of note for Akilijo Balliu with ten minutes of the first half remaining as Putman’s deflected cross was punched to the edge of the box to Balliu but his low effort was just wide of the goal. 

Much like Ilford on Wednesday, Barking scored at the start of both the first and second halves and again It was Sam Shaban in the first half and Juwon Akintunde in the second, this time Izzy Bademosi found Shaban at the penalty spot with a low cross but he scuffed his effort to the feet of Juwon Akintunde who managed to just get enough on the ball to squeeze it past Kiers in goal. 

There were some shouts for offside and after discussing the decision with the assistant, the referee was unmoved by the protests and awarded the goal. Barking kept up the pressure with the direct football necessary in the conditions and thwarted any Sawbridgeworth attacks with ease. Akintunde went close again after 57 minutes as he broke the defensive line and attempted to beat Kiers at his near post from a narrow angle but Kiers was equal to palm it away. Kiers was forced into more impressive action after 75 minutes. Shaban was fouled on the edge of the box and dusted himself down to take the free kick, his powerful effort attempted to beat the keeper at his near post but he did well to get back across and palm the ball away from immediate danger. Shaban nearly got a second in more fortuitous circumstances with five minutes remaining, Balliu found Fahad Nyanja with a clever ball in the left wing of the box and his curling effort beat Kiers but was blocked by a poked Sawbridgeworth’s defender foot which hit Shaban before looping over the bar. There was still time for one more chance of note as Barking attempted to capitalise on a poor clearance by Kiers, Putman squared the ball unselfishly to substitute Deivi Kreka who attempted to lift the ball over Keirs but he made up for his mistake by acrobatically scooping the ball past the post. The most important thing for Barking however will be the three points and the clean sheet in the wind and rain as they look to continue their playoff push.

We now move our focus to Tuesday evening as we meet Haringey Borough in the second round of the London Senior cup which is our last hope of cup glory this season. 

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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