STATISTICS

Date: Saturday 9th September 2023
Kick-off: 3pm
Competition: Essex Senior League 
Venue: Memorial Ground
Attendance: 76
Starters: Harry Girling, Kenedi Dariri, Joe Clark, Henry Mabassa, Aundre Spencer, Gael Kileba, Jack Dickinson, Fahad Nyanja, Nazor Yassier, Martin Tuohy, Ibrahim Kehinde
Substitutes: Cairan Burke, Godwin Fuma. Tom Troubridge, Kai Haysman, Brad Rowland
Substitutions: 
85′ Haysman for Kehinde
90′ Rowland for Kaliba
Goals:
Tuohy Penalty 36′ 1-0
Harry Mann (Little Oakley) 45+4′ 1-1
Lewis Wood (Little Oakley) 83′ 1-2
Yellow cards: Tuohy, Yassier, Haysman
Red cards: Girling

REPORT

LITTLE GOING RIGHT AT OAKLEY

Barking were punished for not taking their chances on a sweltering day at Little Oakley as they were defeated 2-1 after taking a first half lead.

Lee Benson rang the changes and gave debuts to four new signings: Joe Clark, Yassier Nazor, Gael Kaliba and Ibrahim Kehinde.

Oakley had the first chance of the game after five minutes as a header in the box was wide of the target. Barking, playing in yellow, went up the other end and nearly had the lead moments later: Kenedi Dariri’s cross low dangerous cross hit the bar after a deflection from an home defender and the rebound just didn’t fall kindly for debutant Ibrahim Kehinde to put the ball home from close range and it was scrambled clear. Kehinde should have scored at the 15 minute mark as Martin Tuohy latched onto Fahad Nyanja’s header and squared a bobbling ball to Kehinde, but the Oakley keeper Josh Fowler had just enough time to come out to smother a soft attempt. The game entered a lull until the 35th minute with another debutant being involved – Yassein Nazor collected Dariri’s flick on, advanced into the box and cut inside before being tripped in the area for a penalty. Martin Tuohy stepped up to take the penalty and his low effort into the bottom left corner was powerful and accurate enough to beat the dive of Fowler in the Oakley goal to give Barking the lead. 

The Yellows couldn’t hold the lead until half time however, as in first half stoppage time a right wing cross found Harry Mann unmarked at the far post and he half volleyed the ball into the net leaving Barking keeper Harry Girling with no chance and the teams entered halftime level.

The first chance of the second half fell to Little Oakley but this time Girling did well to palm away a powerful low effort and the ball was cleared. The game entered another lull until deja vu for the Yellows – Little Oakley missed a chance in the 74th minute and Barking immediately responded and again should have scored, another powerful Dariri cross was met at close range – this time by Nazor but he somehow from close range side footed the volleyed effort back across the goalkeeper and wide. It became double deja vu after 83 minutes as a Little Oakley corner found Lewis Wood unmarked at the far post and he drove the ball home with his head to give the home side the lead. The game then entered farce, with a confused Girling sent off for dissent after a tackle in the Oakley half while protesting his innocence and Joe Clarke sent to the sin bin for his protestations. Fahad Nyanja took the gloves and essentially became rush goalie as Barking piled forward to try and grab an equaliser. There were chances for both Nazor and Tuohy in the extensive stoppage time but the goalkeeper Fowler was comfortably equal to both as Barking lost their fourthgame in a row in all competitions

We return home for our next league match which is on Tuesday evening when Great Wakering Rovers are the visitors.

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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