STATISTICS

Date: Tuesday 15th April 2025
Kick-off: 7:45pm
Competition: London Senior Cup Semi Final
Venue: Wheatsheaf Park
Attendance: TBC
Starters: Dan Purdue, Charlie Thomson, Fahad Nyanja, Alfie Attrill (C), Lusaed Kastrati, Lorenzo Saponara, Hassan Nalbant, Tyrese Sibanda, Juwon Akintunde, Michele Maccari, Fionn Murphy
Substitutes: Teddy Stacey, Nelly Martins, Akiljo Balliu, Alamin Kosoko, Danny Plumridge-Biggs
Substitutions:
74’ Stacey for Murphy
74’ Balliu for Maccari
84’ Martins for Akintunde
90’ Kosoko for Attrill
Goals:
Emeka Peters (Brentford) 28′ 0-1
Emeka Peters (Brentford) 36′ 0-2
Nalbant 48′ 1-2
Kastrati 58′ 2-2
Max Wilcox Penalty (Brentford) 70′ 2-3
Yellow cards: None
Red cards: None

REPORT

AN ‘A’ CLASS PERFORMANCE AGAINST THE B’S

Barking bowed out of the London Senior cup after a spirited comeback against the professionals of Brentford B, ultimately falling to a second-half penalty in a 3–2 defeat.

Missing Sam Edwards and Pat Ahern through injury and with Caleb Dennis cup-tied, the Blues still managed to push their professional opponents all the way with a gutsy, resilient display which just fell short of at least forcing extra time.

The visitors started brightly, forcing an early corner after just three minutes, though Michele Maccari could only fire over. Juwon Akintunde also had a sight of goal a minute later, but his shot drifted wide. From Dan Purdue’s long clearance, Maccari again had a chance but blazed over. Brentford began to dominate possession, as expected, and on 28 minutes they took the lead. A move down the right saw Ollie Shield deliver a low cross to the far post where Emeka Peters bundled the ball home. The same duo combined again on 36 minutes. Shield’s long diagonal ball caused problems at the back and Peters pounced on a loose touch from Charlie Thomson to volley in his and Brentford’s second. Despite some late pressure from Barking – including a Sibanda cross that Akintunde spun and shot just wide – the home side went into the break trailing 2–0.

Just three minutes after the restart, Barking were gifted a way back into the match. Brentford keeper Connor Wolfheimer made a mess of a clearance from a back pass, and Hassan Nalbant was on hand to pounce and finish from close range.

Nalbant almost levelled five minutes later when another defensive lapse gave him a clear opening, but he pulled his shot wide. Barking’s equaliser arrived on 58 minutes. A Fionn Murphy free kick was partially cleared, the same player returned the ball and after a blocked shot from Fahad Nyanja, the ball fell to him again. His cross found Akintunde, whose header crashed off the post. Debutant Lusaed Kastrati reacted quickest to smash the rebound home from just outside the six-yard box, making it 2–2.

The underdogs had Brentford rattled and continued to press. Akintunde twice went close, forcing saves from Wolfheimer in the 60th and 63rd minutes, as Barking carved open the Brentford defence time and again. However, the momentum shifted on 70 minutes when Nyanja was adjudged to have fouled a Brentford attacker on the edge of the box. Max Wilcox stepped up and calmly sent Purdue the wrong way to restore the visitors’ lead. 

As the clock ticked down, Barking were forced deeper but still managed to create late pressure, searching for a dramatic leveller. Their final chance came deep into stoppage time, but sub Akiljo Balliu’s effort was blocked, and Brentford held on to reach the final.

A gallant effort and one that will surely boost confidence as we go into the business end of the season, starting this Saturday at 3pm when we meet Great Wakering Rovers at the Lawtech Stadium. 

Report source: Terry 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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