STATISTICS
Date: Saturday 28th September 2024
Kick-off: 3pm
Competition: Essex Senior League
Venue: Lawtech Stadium
Attendance: 49
Starters: Max Spence, Miles Smith, Steven Wade, Teddy Stacey, Ryan Cosson (C), Deivi Kreka, Izzy Bademosi, Andy Greenslade, Juwon Akintunde, McDonald, Andre Anderson
Substitutes: Hassan Nalbant, Sam Shaban, Chris John, Jalen Johnson, Danny Taylor
Substitutions:
68′ Taylor for Anderson
69′ John for Kreka
76′ Johnson for Bademosi
78′ Nalbant for Akintunde
79′ Shaban for Greenslade
Goals:
Taylor Lawrence (Benfleet) 7′ 0-1
McDonald 19′ 1-1
Akintunde 22′ 2-1
Bademosi 24′ 3-1
Anderson 43′ 4-1
Sonny Hartman (Benfleet) 62′ 2-4
Shaban 89′ 5-2
Yellow cards: None
Red cards: None
REPORT
BACK TO WINNING WAYS
Barking got back to winning ways with an emphatic 5-2 victory over Benfleet at the Lawtech Stadium. Barking didn’t have it all their own way and went goal down early on but quickly recovered to be leading 4-1 at half time, before a goal for each side in the second half.
Barking started in the ascendancy but were pegged back as a striker on a driving run was brought down in the Barking box with Benfleet awarded a penalty. Taylor Lawrence stepped up and dispatched the penalty with ease, sending Max Spence the wrong way.
Barking kept up their pressure and their efforts were rewarded with a slice of luck after 19 minutes: Steven Wade’s corner was flicked on by Teddy Stacey at the near post and hit the chest the Marcel McDonald on the edge of the six yard box with the ball ending up high in the roof of the net.
Barking kept going forward as Juwon Akintunde saw his powerful effort from a narrow angle go just wide of the post immediately after the restart. It didn’t matter moments later as McDonald cut the Benfleet defence open, leaving Juwon Akintunde through on goal and he slotted the ball under Florent Gislette in the Benfleet goal and into the net to continue his impressive run of form in front of goal.
The Barking onslaught continued and they had their third goal in five minutes as McDonald was again the provider, this time to Izzy Bademosi on the right wing who cut inside before shooting low back across Gislette who was wrong footed and could only watch as the shot hit the net.
Bademosi went close to a second after 34 minutes but Gislette was equal to it this time, just about tipping his effort over the bar. Andre Anderson was dangerous on the left wing and went close after 40 minutes as his stooping header from Teddy Stacey’s cross went just wide of the goal, he had his moment shortly after as some good interchange between Akintunde and McDonald led to Bademosi being fed down the wing, his cross to the far post was perfect for Anderson who headed back across Gislette into the bottom corner of the net, meaning the half time score was Barking 4 Benfleet 1.
Anderson nearly made it five and doubled his tally just after half time as he again met a cross at the far post, this time a low cross, but his side footed effort smacked against the crossbar and bounced away from the goal line. Akintunde went close with a header at the hour mark from another Bademosi cross but it was wide of the target. Benfleet however found a way back into the game on 62 after the award of a free kick on the edge of the box that could be defined as soft, Sonny Hartwell didn’t care however and he expertly curved the free kick around the wall and into the net with Spence able to only stand and watch.
Ryan Cosson went close to restoring Barking’s three goal cushion five minutes later as Barking’s danger from corners continued but his header was well saved by Gislette. Benfleet continued to push forward but Barking regained their composure and Max Spence was not forced to make any save of note, Barking threatened themselves and had their reward late on to round off a good day as Hassan Nalbant and McDonald combined with McDonald’s scuffed shot falling to Sam Shaban in the box who gratefully prodded the ball home for his first goal since returning to Barking.
We return to the cup trail on Wednesday evening, this time it is the Essex Senior cup as we travel to Great Wakering to take on White Ensign in a first round tie.
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.
