STATISTICS

Date: Saturday 31st August 2024
Kick-off: 3pm
Competition: FA Cup First Qualifying Round
Venue: The Wellesley
Attendance: 148
Starters: Max Spence, James Reynolds, Jay Bacon, Sam Edwards, Ryan Cosson (C), Teddy Stacey, Bradley McDonald, Jerrold Cobblah, Juwon Akintunde, Marcel McDonald, Izzy Bademosi
Substitutes: Steven Wade, Bradley Monks, Stephen Stafford, Teddy Bowden, Olu Shobowale, Jalen Johnson
Substitutions:
39′ Wade for Reynolds
64′ Johnson for McDonald (B)
72’Shobowale forBademosi
Goals:
McDonald (M) 11′ 1-0
Akintunde  31′ 2-0
Harley Black (Gorleston) 52′ 2-1
Adam Tann (Gorleston) 79′ 2-2
Yellow cards: Reynolds, Bacon, Stacey
Red cards: None

REPORT

THE LAST MAN IS STILL STANDING

Barking, the last Essex Senior League team left in the competition put their name in the hat and threatened another FA Cupset but they were pegged back in the second half by a resurgent Gorleston as the sides drew 2-2.

This was our third meeting with Gorleston and the last was in September 2017, which ended 4-0 to Barking in the first qualifying round of the FA Cup.

Miles Smith was suspended and his place was taken by James Reynolds, with Andy Greenslade injured and Hassan Nalbant and Sam Shaban both cup tied it meant a reshuffle.There were early chances for both sides and it probably should have been 1-1 after ten minutes – Zach Dronfield skied a close range effort after five minutes and then Barking ripped Gorleston apart with some very good football and Marcel McDonald broke the offside trap and managed to round Gorleston keeper Travis Canham who managed to recover and block his effort on goal. It was joy for Marcel a minute later however, Gorleston failed to clear a cross by Izzy Bademosi and as the ball looped in the air Marcel McDonald launched himself head first and the resultant header beat the backpedalling Canham in goal and found the net.

Gorleston continued to threaten from free kicks conceded by a Barking side eager to win the ball back but they failed to test Spence. Barking’s pressure paid off just after half hour mark: Juwon Akintunde pressured Canham as he received the ball – he simply couldn’t cope and Juwon Akintunde was gifted the ball and after evading the despairing Canham he slotted the ball into an empty net for his sixth goal in eleven games this season.

There was little of note in the final fifteen minutes of the first half but whatever was said in the Gorleston dressing room at half time worked and they should have halved the deficit four minutes into the second half as a striker drove straight through the Barking defence but somehow conspired to side foot the ball straight at Max Spence. The pressure finally told after 53 minutes: Harley Black punished Barking for their foul count as he stepped up to a free kick and wrongfooted Spence, expecting a free kick over the wall rather than the effort that beat him on his right side to give Gorleston a route back into the game. 

Substitute Jalen Johnson was given another chance for some FA Cup heroics but his low powerful effort at the halfway point of the second period was just wide of the target. Gorleston continued to push forward and put the squeeze on a Barking side struggling to get rid of the ball and keep it in the opposition half and the continual pressure eventually told after 79 minutes as Adam Tann headed home from a corner.

Gorleston were not done however and were not content to settle for a replay with five minutes of normal time remaining – again the Barking defence were pulled open and again Max Spence was the saviour as he palmed away a goalbound effort from Harrison Hall with the rebound from a tough angle going into the side netting. Barking also fancied ending the game today as Gorleston failed to clear a long kick from Spence as we entered injury time but Jerrold Cobblah’s effort from just inside the box bobbled wide of the target.There was still time for Barking hearts to firmly be in their mouths as Gorleston again threatened from a corner but an important hand from Spence denied the home side before the rebound was deflected over the bar. In the end, the referee’s whistle confirmed a replay with both sides entering the third qualifying round of the FA Cup draw on Monday.

The replay will take place on Tuesday evening (September 17th) at the Lawtech Stadium meaning our league encounter with Frenford will be rescheduled on a date to be confirmed.

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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