STATISTICS

Date: Monday 31st August 2026
Kick-off: 12:30pm
Competition: Essex Senior League
Venue: Scraley Road
Attendance: 235
Starters: Lee Haylock, Shaye La-Rose, Ali Mansaray, Michael Okafor, Mwetsi Matangi, Trevor Harding, Alfie Attrill, Michael Dixon, Arion Svarqa, Josh Gruby, Amadeus Addotey ©
Substitutes: Fahad Nyanja, Philip Hayford, Teddy Bowden, Raymond Poku, Matthew Farrelly
Substitutions:
56’ Nyanja for Matangi
68’ Poku for Attrill
69’ Hayford for Harding
78’ Farrelly for Addotey
Goals:
Okafor 37’ 1-0
Zack Littlejohn (Heybridge) 44’ 1-1
Alex Golder (Heybridge) 54′ 1-2
Jack Adlington-Pile (Heybridge) 63′ 1-3
Yellow cards: Harding, Okafor, Dixon, 
Red cards: None

REPORT

BANK HOLIDAY MISERY AT HEYBRIDGE

Barking took the lead but were undone by the better side as two second half goals consigned them to a 3-1 defeat away to Heybridge Swifts on Bank Holiday Monday.

The first fifteen minutes were tight with Heybridge the stronger side and they forced Lee Haylock into an excellent save as he stretched to athletically tip the ball over the bar. The Swifts saw more of the ball but it was the Blues who took the lead on 37 as Haylock’s free kick from just inside our own half was nodded home by Michael Okafor who bravely beat Heybridge stopper Callum Chafer to the ball. The lead only lasted seven minutes, a quick free kick was played down the right wing and Zack Littlejohn met the ball at the far post and headed back across goal into the net. Trevor Harding had a good chance in first half injury time but his side footed effort was wide of the target. 

A counter on top of a counter saw the home side take the lead after 54 minutes – Haylock did well to collect a scramble and the Blues countered as Josh Gruby squeezed a pass through to Ali Manasary but his shot was saved by Chafer. The ball was then duly dispatched to Henry Hart who marauded down the right wing before cutting back to Alex Golder at the penalty spot who drove the ball home. The lead was doubled nine minutes as again Barking were countered from their own attacking position, this time defeated by a wonder goal from Jack Adlington-Pile, his lofted effort from 35 yards pinging the inside of the post before nestling in the net. Heybridge continued to look dangerous going forward in the last half hour but Barking stood firm and pushed forward as time progressed, looking dangerous from set pieces that just needed a touch, but in the end Chafer was never really tested.

Barking will now need to lick their wounds before facing Ilford at home on Saturday. 

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.