STATISTICS

Date: Saturday 12th October 2024
Kick-off: 3pm
Competition: Essex Senior League
Venue: Millbank Stadium
Attendance: 229
Starters: Max Spence, Miles Smith, Jay Bacon, Sam Edwards, Ryan Cosson ©, Teddy Stacey, Danny Taylor, Jerrold Cobblah, Juwon Akintunde, Sam Shaban, Andre Anderson
Substitutes: Chris John, Deivi Kreka, Bradley McDonald, Izzy Bademosi
Substitutions:
68’ Bademosi for Anderson
69’ McDonald for Akintunde
74’ John for Edwards
77’ Kreka for Smith
Goals:
Shaban 4′ 1-0
Anderson 35′ 2-0
Alfie Lambert (Halstead) 41’ 2-1
Akintunde 50′ 3-1
Shaban 61′ 4-1
Shaban 81′ 5-1
Alfie Cleal (Halstead) 82’ 5-2
Yellow cards: Rowland, Nyanja
Red cards: None

REPORT

TRIPLE BAM FROM SHABAN

Barking recorded a comfortable victory over Halstead Town by a 5-2 scoreline, but in reality they should have scored more, with two disallowed for offside and two efforts hitting the post alongside other misses. 

The actual goals from Juwon Akintunde, Andre Anderson and a first Barking hat trick for Sam Shaban.

Barking had the lead in just four minutes, Jerrold Cobblah playing Juwon Akintunde down the right wing, and his low cross evaded everyone but Sam Shaban in the box, who drove the ball into the net. 

Juwon nearly doubled the lead moments later as he managed to win the ball in the box but his powerful effort smacked against the goalkeeper Hayden West’s’s near post. Shaban had the ball in the net again close to the ten minute mark but this was brought back for offside. Barking again went close after 16 minutes – Sam Edwards’ free kick was cleared but the ball came back into Sam Shaban – his low cross was palmed centrally where it fell to Akintunde but his shot while off balance was cleared off the line Halstead’s Tom Graves. Barking kept going forward and it was Andre Anderson who latched onto a low cross by Akintunde after 23 minutes but West in the Halstead goal did well to get across the goal and make the save. Halstead finally had their first chance moments later as Max Spence was forced into tipping over a high effort from Dean Ager at his near post. Barking hit the post again after 28 minutes – a cleared free kick was crossed to the far post by Danny Taylor where it was met by Andre Anderson but this time he couldn’t get his header across goal to find the net as it found the post and bounced away, Barking recycled the ball and had another chance but Shaban’s snapshot was wide of the target. Barking finally got their second after 35 minutes – another low cross from Akintunde found Shaban with his back to goal who managed to find Andre Anderson in the box and he conjured enough space in the box to dispatch a shot into the bottom left corner of the net.

It got worse for Halstead shortly after as they went down to ten men temporarily after a sin bin for dissent by James Everleigh. This actually seemed to galvanise Halstead: five minutes before halftime they countered and a cross from the right wing was cut back for a shot which was off target but found Alfie Lambert at the far post for an easy tap-in to halve the deficit.

Barking restored their two-goal lead quickly after the second half resumed as after good work from Miles Smith, Shaban turned provider for Juwon Akintunde as the Yellows again broke the high Halstead line – Juwon Akintunde had the freedom to advance on goal – a defender managed to keep pace but his attempt at a block could only help Juwon’s effort find the net.

Shaban and Anderson should have added to their tallies but it was Shaban who eventually got Barking’s fourth and his second after 61 minutes as Barking pressured down the left wing before Sam Shaban turned in Jay Bacon’s low cross from about a yard out. 

Spence was forced into a good smothering save from 67 minutes from Alfie Cleal but Barking got their deserved fifth and a deserved hat trick for Sam Shaban after 81 minutes – a good dummy from Bradley McDonald gave Jay Bacon space in the left wing of the box, his powerful shot was saved by West but landed at the feet of Shaban who had an easy task of shooting into the net. 

Halstead managed to get a second through Alfie Cleal who rifled the ball into the net, the effort was mildly controversial as Cleal had been offside in the buildup with the assistant referee putting his flag up, Cleal then let the ball go meaning he was adjudged to not be active. In reality it had no change on the game. There was still time for more action and controversy – firstly keeper West in the Halstead goal was sin-binned for dissent towards the other assistant referee, before Cleal himself saw a second yellow in injury time for a foul on Cobblah meaning they ended the game with nine men.

There is not a midweek game so our next game is on October 19th when we welcome FC Clacton to the Lawtech Stadium in the first round of the Peter Butcher Memorial Trophy.

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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