STATISTICS

Date: Tuesday 25th February 2025
Kick-off: 7:45pm
Competition: London Senior Cup Quarter Final
Venue: Lawtech Stadium
Attendance: 64
Starters: Dan Purdue, Fahad Nyanja, Ugonna Emenike, Sam Edwards, Pat Ahern ©, Lorenzo Saponara, Akiljo Balliu, Alfie Attrill, Juwon Akintunde, Sam Shaban, Hassan Nalbant
Substitutes: Henry Mabassa, Osaretin Otete, Fionn Murphy, Tyrese Sibanda, Teddy Stacey
Substitutions:
54’ Stacey for Nyanja
64’ Mabassa for Attrill
90+2’ Sibanda for Akintunde
Goals:
Emenike 32’ 1-0
Attrill 53’ 2-0
Harry Taylor (Erith) 88′ 2-1
Edwards 90+3’ 3-1
Yellow cards: Nyanja
Red cards: None

REPORT

ERITH ELIMINATED BY CONFIDENT BLUES

Barking secured their passage into the semi finals of the London Senior Cup as they made successive victories against Isthmian South East sides, this time defeating Erith Town 3-1, thanks to goals from Ugonna Emenike, Alfie Attrill and Sam Edwards.

This victory means that in the past four seasons, we have now reached the semi-finals of this competition twice and on the other two occasions the quarter-finals. Each time we have been eliminated by professional opposition, can we make it fourth time lucky?

Erith started the brighter of the two sides and came close to taking the lead at the ten minute mark, a low cross from the left wing found an Erith attacker on the penalty spot but Dan Purdue was down quickly to palm his shot onto the post before it travelled back across goal before being put out for a corner. There was a premonition for the Blues after 18 minutes, Akilijo Balliu’s cross from the right wing looked to be looping over goalkeeper Nathan Edwards but he managed to backpedal to tip it over the bar. Barking came back into the game and should have taken the lead after 30 minutes, Hassan Nalbant nodding a high ball down to Juwon Akintunde who found himself in space but his powerful effort was too close to Edwards who saved with his feet, the rebound fell back to Nalbant but his shot was eventually collected by Edwards. Barking did have the lead moments later, Sam Edwards finding Ugonna Emenike in space and time on the left wing of the box, his chipped cross wrong footed Edwards in the Erith goal and looped over him and into the net to give Barking the lead. Nalbant forced Edwards into another save to round off Barking’s quick succession of chances just after the restart as he palmed away his poked volley. Erith had their own chance to quickly bounce back after 34 minutes from an attack down the right wing but Dan Purdue did well to save low with his feet.

The Blues continued in the second half to show they were not afraid of their higher league opponents, with Balliu going close again after 51 minutes, his powerful effort from just outside the box smacking against the crossbar.  Balliu got some sort of reward for his play two minutes later as Alfie Attrill became the second player to score his first goal for Barking this evening, as he rose highest to nod the ball home from Akilijo’s cross. The home side continued to come forward and nearly had a third five minutes later, good football leading to Edwards playing the ball to Nalbant, his powerful low shot on the turn was however well saved by the Erith stopper. Erith did think they had a way back into the game after 61 minutes as a cross was bundled home but the assistant referee’s flag was up for offside. Nalbant was again denied by a good save after 70 minutes but afterwards the away side become desperate and then more dangerous as they pushed the ball forward, eventually getting a flicker of a chance of snatching something from the game, as Harry Taylor bundled home a cross from the left wing with two minutes of normal time remaining. With Erith pushing forward, Barking in turn pushed them further into their own half, and eventually a poor clearance in the third minute of added injury time came bouncing to the feet of Sam Edwards, who launched a wondrous half volley from at least 30 yards away that had his namesake Nathan Edwards scrambling across his goal but like everyone else he could only watch as it found the net to secure Barking’s passage to the semi-finals of the London Senior Cup.

It is back to the bread and butter on Saturday afternoon as we travel to Lower Road to take on Hullbridge Sports for our next league fixture.

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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