STATISTICS

Date: Tuesday 19th December 2023
Kick-off: 7:45pm
Competition: London Senior Cup Second Round
Venue: Coles Park
Attendance: 132
Starters: Kyami Nelson, Brad Rowland, Shaye La-Rose, Jack Folan, George Forrest, Fahad Nyanja (C), Jack Dickinson, Karl Kayembe, Luke Hirst, Sam Shaban, Sam Dowridge
Substitutes: Henry Hart, Joshua Fisayo, Tim Monsheju, Ruben Marques, Presley Evans
Substitutions:
56′ Fisayo for Shaban
56′ Evans for Dowridge
64′ Marques for Hirst
Goals:
Dickinson 13′ 1-0
Anthony Mendy 14′ (Haringey Borough) 1-1
Hirst 22′ 2-1
Shaban 51′ 3-1
Yellow cards: None
Red cards: None

REPORT

HARINGEY STUNNED AS BARKING PROGRESS

In a remarkable cup upset at Coles Park, Barking emerged victorious against Haringey Borough who play two steps above us in the Isthmian League Premier Division. 

The match ended 3-1, with goals from Jack Dickinson, Luke Hirst and Sam Shaban securing Barking’s place in the quarter finals with Anthony Mendy replying for the home side.

This victory extends Barking’s unbeaten run to eight games in league and cup since Jonny Fowell and Mike Walther took charge at the beginning of November. 

This was our first meeting with Haringey since October 2017 and only the second in this competition. The previous occasion was on October 25th 2011 in a home fourth round tie which was settled by a single goal from Frankie Williams in our favour. 

This was the first time we have beaten Haringey since that game and the first occasion we have beaten them at Coles Park since they were formed in 1973.

Kyami Nelson took over the goalkeeping duties from Ben Lane, the subs bench featured three new players: Henry Hart, a part of our record-breaking FA Youth Cup run, along with Ruben Marques and Presley Evans.

The opening minutes saw limited action, but Barking’s Sam Shaban nearly freed Luke Hirst with a well-timed ball. In the seventh minute, Kyami Nelson made a crucial save with his feet to deny Haringey from taking the lead. Despite Haringey dominating possession, Barking’s defence held firm. The breakthrough came in the 13th minute when Luke Hirst’s clever play allowed Sam Dowridge to outpace his opponent and deliver a cross, which was subsequently headed home by Jack Dickinson.

However, Haringey responded swiftly and a well-placed Anthony Mendy beat Nelson to find the net and level the scores just a minute later. Barking regained the lead in the 22nd minute. Shaye La Rose was fouled, and the resulting free-kick caused confusion in the Haringey defence and the ball was fumbled by home keeper Alex Zamani under challenge from Dickinson, from just inside the penalty area Luke Hirst capitalised on the error by delicately lobbing the ball into the net for 2-1. 

In the 37th minute, the ball was kept in play, just staying the right side of the line and it was played to Shaban, whose initial shot was blocked, and Dickinson’s follow up attempt faced a similar fate. Six minutes later, Brad Rowland made an impressive burst down the right wing. He reached the byline and delivered a cross towards Shaban. However the Barking striker was unable to make contact with the ball, and the promising opportunity was lost. As the first minute of added time ticked away a dangerous cross flashed across Barking’s penalty area. Fortunately, there was no Haringey player in the vicinity to take advantage and Barking went into the break leading 2-1.

Five minutes into the second half there is a let off as another dangerous cross was cleared by Fahad Nynja, but in the next minute it is 3-1: the ball is played through to Sam Shaban who hits an unstoppable first time shot from outside of the box leaving Zamani grasping at thin air as the ball flies past him and into the net.

With 26 minutes left both Hirst and Shaban are withdrawn and the template was set for the remainder of the half with Haringey enjoying a lot of possession, but Barking were happy to soak the pressure up and counter where possible. In the closing five minutes of normal time Barking started to have sporadic attacks but could not create a decisive scoring opportunity. In the third minute of added time Haringey struck the outside of the post through Matt Young but it didn’t matter as shortly afterwards the Referee brought matters to a close and we advanced on to the quarter finals where we will be away to either Welling United or Charlton Athletic on a date to be confirmed, as these teams do not meet until early February it will be a couple of months before the tie is arranged.

We travel to West Street on Saturday to complete our matches for 2023 to meet bottom of the table Coggeshall Town in the Essex Senior League who we beat 3-2 back in September.

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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