STATISTICS

Date: Saturday 26th August 2023
Kick-off: 3pm
Competition: FA Vase First Qualifying Round
Venue: Hutchinson Hollow
Attendance: 114
Starters: Harry Girling, Kenedi Dariri, Henry Mabassa, Tom Troubridge, Aundre Spencer, Harvey Brown (C), Brad Rowland, Jack Dickinson, Martin Tuohy, David Owiredu, Chris Adu-Gyamfi
Substitutes: Matthew Cambridge, Kai Haysman, George Okoye
Substitutions:
HT Okoye for Adu-Gyamfi
60′ Haysman for Owiredu
60′ Cambridge for Brown
Goals:
Shane Fox (Potton) 2′ 0-1
Richard Chadwick (Potton) 43′ 0-2
Lewis Lynn (Potton) 53′ 0-3
Yellow cards: Haysman
Red cards: None

REPORT

OUT AT THE FIRST HURDLE (AGAIN)

Barking fell at the first hurdle of the FA Vase for the second consecutive year as they were comfortably beaten 3-0 by Potton United with all three goals coming from free kicks, two in the first half and one in the second half.

This was our first senior meeting against Potton since the home 4-0 win in the second qualifying round of the same competition on September 24th 2011. Our goals came that day from a hat trick by Chas Liddiard and one from Jake King.

The Yellows were behind after just two minutes as a central free kick smacked the post before falling at the feet of Shane Fox who gratefully side footed the ball home. 

Barking had their fair share of the ball but should have been 2-0 down after 14 minutes as the ball crept past the defensive line with the onrushing Victor Osobu poking past Girling but the ball bobbled past the post. Barking had their first shot on target five minutes later as David Owiredu saw his effort from outside of the box comfortably saved but they should have equalised after 22 minutes – debutant Jack Dickinson broke the offside trap from a Brad Rowland through ball, he attempted to round the goalkeeper before shooting but he took too long as the keeper did well to half block the shot before it was headed off the line by a defender. Tom Troubridge did well with some brave blocks to deny Potton a second, the resultant corner did see the ball in the net as a looping header was put into the net from very close range but the assistant referee flagged for offside. Another soft through ball found its way through the Barking defensive rearguard, this time Girling did well to smother the initial effort and then tip a looping effort from the rebound over the bar. Girling could do nothing just before half time: another soft free kick conceded, this time on the left wing and a floated cross being headed home at the far post by Richard Chadwick.

Barking would have wanted to try and get a foothold in the game but this was made even more difficult after eight minutes of the second half – a free kick in the centre circle was drilled out to the left wing, a low cross ensued and the initial effort was blocked by Troubridge but the ball fell to Lewis Lynn who rifled the ball into the bottom left corner of the net for Potton’s third. The home side continued to push and Girling was called into action again with half an hour of the game to go as Troubridge lost possession 20 yards from his own box with the ball being picked up by Fox but his eventual shot was blocked by the Barking keeper. The visitors  to their credit tried to push forward and Martin Tuohy should have scored his first for the Blues in his second spell with 20 minutes to go. Kenedi Dariri set Brad Rowland down the right wing, his low cross finding Tuohy six yards out but his effort hit the inside of the post and bounced into the grateful hands of the goalkeeper. Aundre Spencer should have opened his account moments later, this time he robbed the defender in the box after Dariri’s low ball but his powerful effort only found the side netting. Missing these chances knocked the final stuffing out of the Yellows and even though they continued to look forward Potton were the team who looked more likely to score as they broke forward from overcommitting Barking attacks.

It’s back to the bread and butter of the league and very quickly too as Bank Holiday Monday afternoon sees us back at the Lawtech Stadium to take on Sporting Bengal United with a 3pm start.

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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