STATISTICS

Date: Wednesday 11th November 2026
Kick-off: 7:45pm
Competition: Errington Challenge Cup First Round
Venue: Woodside Park
Attendance: 220
Starters: Harvey Simson, Celeany Filho, Shaye La-Rose, Charlie Thomson ©, Jack McQueen, Liam Boxall, Dan Thompson, Ali Mansaray, Sonny Dutton, Teddy Bowden, Josh Gruby
Substitutes: Pat Ahern, Michael Dixon, Philip Hayford, Arion Svarqa, Ryan Pickles
Substitutions:
HT Svarqa for Bowden
HT Dixon for Dutton
56’ Pickles for Thompson
57’ Hayford for Filho
76’ Ahern for McQueen
Goals:
Pickles Penalty 67’ 1-0

REPORT

PENALTY KING PICKLES SENDS BARKING THROUGH

Barking progressed to the second round of the Errington Challenge Cup after a second-half penalty from Ryan Pickles proved enough to see off Benfleet.

It was our first victory in this competition since beating Tilbury in March 2024, and also the first win on grass this season.

There were five changes to the side that beat Clapton CFC on Saturday.

Benfleet started on the front foot, but Barking showed their first threat on eight minutes when a Josh Gruby cross caused problems. On 19 minutes, Liam Boxall made an important block to concede a corner, but neither side created much of note during a scrappy opening half-hour. Neither goalkeeper, Harvey Simson of Barking or Harry Carter of Benfleet, had been seriously tested. On 42 minutes, Shaye La Rose put a dangerous cross behind for another Benfleet corner, which came to nothing. Barking finished the half with some pressure, but Charlie Thomson fired over the bar and the sides went in level.

Two half-time changes saw Arion Svarqa and Michael Dixon replace Teddy Bowden and Sonny Dutton.

Barking showed greater urgency after the restart and enjoyed more of the play, although clear-cut chances remained elusive. On 61 minutes, an Ali Mansaray flick-on found Ryan Pickles, who evaded a challenge and forced Carter into his first save of the evening. The breakthrough came six minutes later. A Josh Gruby throw-in caused confusion in the Benfleet box, Liam Boxall hooked the ball back and Charlie Thomson headed it on. The ball struck a Benfleet player’s hand and the referee immediately pointed to the spot. Ryan Pickles, on the pitch for just eleven minutes, sent Carter the wrong way to make it 1–0. It was his twelfth goal of the season, his fourth penalty and third goal in the last four games.

Benfleet responded and on 70 minutes Simson had to tip a dangerous free kick over the bar as the visitors began to apply pressure. With three minutes remaining, Billy Carter had a golden opportunity to equalise when found by a cross-field pass, but fired over. Probably the game went with this miss. In the final minute, Dixon released Pickles, who broke into the box and squared for Gruby, but Carter produced a good save to deny him. Barking saw out the rest of added time to secure their place in the second round, with Pickles’ penalty ultimately proving the difference.

We are back in league action on Saturday as we make our third trip to Burroughs Park this season to meet Great Wakering Rovers.

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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