STATISTICS

Date: Saturday 9th November 2024
Kick-off: 3pm
Competition: Essex Senior League 
Venue: Lawtech Stadium
Attendance: 72
Starters: Dan Purdue, Charlie Thomson, Fahad Nyanja, Sam Edwards, Pat Ahern (C), Henry Mabassa, Miles Smith, Teddy Stacey, Juwon Akintunde, Izzy Bademosi, Micah Jackson
Substitutes: Ryan Cosson, Favour Orihu, Andre Anderson, Cabdi Ahmed, Jay Bacon
Substitutions:
53’ Bacon for Smith
88’ Orihu for Jackson
90+1’ Cosson for Edwards
Goals:
Mabassa 5’ 1-0
Akintunde 24’ 2-0
Correy Davidson (Saffron Walden) 29′ 2-1
Akintunde 69’ 3-1
Yellow cards: Smith
Red cards: None

REPORT

EDWARDS BACK WITH A BANG   

Craig Edwards first game back in charge at Barking ended in success as they dispatched fellow playoff contenders Saffron Walden Town 3-1. Henry Mabassa scored early on and a double for Juwon Akintunde took his tally up to 12 for the season to seal the win.

Barking keeper Dan Purdue had to be alert after three minutes to tip over a looping volley from Sam Deering but Barking took the lead two minutes later from their first foray into the Walden half, Micah Jackson’s corner was perfectly under the bar and with the Blues cleanly pressing the goalkeeper Jake Anderson, Henry Mabassa rose highest to nod the ball home. 

It was all Saffron Walden after that however, with the Blues frantically clearing their lines from set pieces and also open play. Purdue was rarely troubled however and Barking struck on the counter after 24 minutes: Jackson found Izzy Bademosi who in turn found Miles Smith down the right wing, he had plenty of time to set himself and launch a perfect cross to the far post where it was met by the head of Juwon Akintunde who headed it back across Anderson and into the corner of the net to double Barking’s lead. 

The two-goal deficit only lasted five minutes as the ball broke to Walden nicely in the middle of the pitch and with numbers in their favour the ball was despatched to Ricky Modeste on the right wing of the box and his cross found Correy Davidson in the middle who had nodded the ball home. Barking had another chance after 36 minutes as Jackson went from provider to attempter but his powerful effort, although stinging the hands of Anderson, was too close to the goalkeeper and saved.

The second half was much more equal in terms of pressure and possession, with the first moment of note taking place when the returning Fahad Nyanja, returning to Barking and placed out on the right wing after an injury to Smith, saw his low effort deflected and bounce just over the bar. The pace picked up however and Barking got their third on 69 and Juwon Akintunde got his second when a long drop kick by Purdue was helped on by Bademosi and a Walden defender, it fell to Akintunde on the edge of the box and he caught it sweetly on the low bounce and it flew (on the ground) towards Anderson who was wrongfooted and helpless as he had already shifted his body weight to the right. 

The two-goal lead nearly again lasted only five minutes but this time Purdue was equal to a curling effort from Modeste as he tipped it over the bar. The danger was not over however as Purdue made an even better save from the resultant corner which was only cleared to the edge of the box, a deflected shot fell to an unmarked Ross Wall at the far post, he attempted to sneak the ball in to the goal but Purdue got across quickly and down quickly to make a frankly miraculous save to deny the away side. 

The lack of a second goal for Saffron Walden Town from that attack really took the wind from their sails and the Blues kept them comfortably at bay defensively, there was a panic in stoppage time after a dangerous free kick for an accidental handball by captain Pat Ahern, but the Jamie Hirsit’s effort was straight into the wall as Barking got back to winning ways under the new man in charge.

As there is no midweek game, we travel to Burroughs Park next Saturday afternoon to take on third placed Great Wakering Rovers. 

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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