STATISTICS

Date: Saturday 27th July 2024
Kick-off: 3pm
Competition: Essex Senior League
Venue: The Rush Green Bowl
Attendance: 146
Starters: Max Spence, Teddy Stacey, Jay Bacon, Sam Edwards, Ryan Cosson (C), Chris John. Izzy Bademosi, Andy Greenslade, Juwon Akintunde, Marcel McDonald, Jerold Cobblah
Substitutes: Teddy Bowden, Steven Wade, Michael Mignot, Charlie Thomson, Presley Evans
Substitutions:
60′ Evans for Cobblah
60′ Bowden for Edwards
80′ Thomson for John
80′ Wade for Stacey
83′ Mignot for Bademosi
Goals:
Akintunde Penalty 20′ 1-0
McDonald 30′ 2-0
John 49′ 3-0
Yellow cards: Bowden
Red cards: None

REPORT

BARKING START AS THEY FINISHED

Barking opened their 24/25 season how they ended their 23/24 season, with a 3-0 win over FC Clacton. The new look Barking side saw three debutant scorers as Juwon Akintunde (from the penalty spot), Marcel McDonald and Chris John led Barking to a comfortable victory.

The Yellows nearly had a dream start after 90 seconds as Juwon Akintunde flicked on a long ball from Max Spence for Marcel McDonald to latch onto, but his cross was just slightly too high for Izzy Bademosi who couldn’t direct his header on target. Barking were comfortably the better side and went close to having the lead after 15 minutes as Akintunde nearly had an empty net to tap in from McDonald’s cut back but an excellent last ditch tackle from Clacton’s Fletcher Hanna denied him, despite the referee awarding a goal kick! Barking had their deserved lead five minutes later: some good interplay between Jerold Cobblah, McDonald and Jay Bacon led to Bacon driving into the box where he was tripped from behind leaving Mr Miller with the simple decision to award a penalty. Juwon Akintunde stepped up and drove the ball into the bottom corner of the net for Barking’s first of the day and Juwon’s first in a Barking shirt. 

Barking doubled their lead ten minutes later, a corner from Jay Bacon was punched away but only to Marcel McDonald and his volleyed attempt twisted the goalkeeper around as it found the net. 

The Barking high press continued to reap success and Cobblah went close just before half time as he drove forward after winning the ball back but his powerful shot from the edge of the box just whistled wide.

Barking started the second half as the first finished and had their third shortly after the restart. A driven corner from Sam Edwards was met by a stooping Chris John who nodded home at the far post. 

There were further chances before the hour mark as Cobblah saw his half volley from the edge of the box go over the bar and then Andy Greenslade saw his effort that threatened to creep in at the near post well saved. Barking took advantage of the lead to use their substitutes bench, including Teddy Bowden and Charlie Thomson, two of last year’s Under 23’s making their first team league debuts. Clacton also made their substitutes, and alongside a drinks break on a hot afternoon, the game became more stilted with Barking still in the ascendancy but with less and less action in either area. Max Spence was bought into action for the first time as the clock ticked into injury time as a Clacton winger drove forward, cutting in and out before attempting to beat Spence at his near post but Max was well equal to it to keep his clean sheet and that was the last moment of note in an excellent start to the season for the Yellows.

We are at home to Stanway Rovers this coming Tuesday for our first league game of the season at the Lawtech Stadium.

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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