STATISTICS

Date: Saturday 16th March 2024
Kick-off: 3pm
Competition: Essex Senior League 
Venue: Lawtech Stadium
Attendance: 61
Starters: Dan Purdue, Kenedi Dariri (C), Shaye La-Rose, Connor Witherspoon, Michael Aziaya, Joe Clark, Fahad Nyanja, Jack Dickinson, Luke Hirst, Sam Dowridge, Izzy Bademosi
Substitutes: George Forrest, Karl Kayembe, Junior Kaffo, Warren Kayembe, Declan Nche
Substitutions:
66′ Forrest for La-Rose
66′ Kayembe (W) for Bademosi
66′ Kaffo for Dickinson
77′ Kayembe (K) for Witherspoon
77′ Nche for Dowridge
Goals:
Bademosi 2′ 1-0
Hirst 55′ 2-0
Hirst 63′ 3-0
Hirst 90+3′ 4-0
Yellow cards: Hirst
Red cards: None

REPORT

HIRST HAT TRICK HAMMERS SAFFRON WALDEN  

Not only did Luke Hirst score for the third consecutive match in a Barking shirt against Saffron Walden Town, he also ended his recent run without a goal by scoring a second half hat trick, after Izzy Bademosi opened the scoring early in the first half. 

It was Luke’s third hat trick for Barking, following the two he got last season against Romford and Ilford in consecutive league matches, as our clinical finishing and Hirst’s in particular proved too much for Saffron Walden to handle as we looked to tighten our grip on fourth place.

Our newest signing Junior Kaffo was on the bench as was George Forrest returning from injury, Brad Rowland was absent due to the second and last game of his suspension.

The match began with a bang for Barking after just two minutes, as Sam Dowridge’s break from midfield led to Izzy Bademosi pouncing on a defensive error by Dion Kerwin-Lewis and he confidently slotted the ball past Jarvis Monk in the Saffron Walden goal to give Barking an 1-0 lead and leaving the visitors shell shocked at such an early setback. As the game progressed, Saffron Walden launched several attacks, with a long throw into the Barking box causing problems on 13 minutes, but despite loud visiting appeals for a penalty for handball, the referee remained unmoved. Six minutes later Dowridge found Bademosi again, but his shot sailed over the Town goal, just before the half hour good interplay between Shaye La-Rose and Bademosi ends with the latter crossing to Luke Hirst who fires just over. As the half progresses Saffron Walden have enough pressure and pump balls into our box Barking stand firm and break forward where possible but both teams struggled to create any real scoring opportunities

Early on after the interval Barking had more of the ball but again couldn’t find the target but then Luke Hirst clinical finishing came to the fore completing a sensational hat trick.The second goal arrived on 55 minutes when a long throw from Kenedi Dariri is flicked on by Jack Dickinson and Bademosi in his effort to control the ball sees it bounce off Town’s Tom Massey who inadvertently sets up Luke Hirst as the ball sits up nicely and he beats the oncoming Kerwin-Lewis to the ball and he buries it into the net for a superb strike.

Barking’s dominance continued in the 63rd minute: Dowridge plays the ball to Nyanja and his cross was punched clear by Walden keeper Monk straight to Kenedi Dariri, he slips the ball inside for Luke Hirst who lets it run before firing the ball low into the net to extended Barking’s lead to 3-0 with another powerful finish. 

Despite the uphill battle Saffron Walden refused to concede defeat, launching several attacks and they nearly pulled a goal back on 72 but Barking keeper Dan Purdue just stopped the ball from rolling over the line, with time running out Walden come again but cannot prise anything from the Barking defence on what is a frustrating day for them. In the third minute of added time Barking sealed their victory in emphatic fashion when a quick throw-in from Karl Kayembe to brother Warren who unselfishly crossed for Luke Hirst to slide home for 4-0 to complete his hat trick and score his 19th goal of the season. This turns out to be the last kick of the game as the referee blows for full time straight afterwards.

For the third Tuesday running we have a cup match as we visit former Barking manager Justin Gardner’s Hullbridge Sports in the quarter final of the Peter Butcher Memorial Trophy.

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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