MATCH CENTRE

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STATISTICS

AFTER EXTRA TIME
Date: Tuesday 3rd September 2024
Kick-off: 8pm
Competition: FA Cup First Qualifying Round Replay
Venue: Lawtech Stadium
Attendance: 93
Starters: Max Spence, Miles Smith, Jay Bacon, Sam Edwards, Ryan Cosson (C), Teddy Stacey, Izzy Bademosi, Andy Greenslade, Juwon Akintunde, Marcel McDonald, Bradley McDonald
Substitutes: Jerold Cobblah, Bradley Monks, Nelly Martins, Charlie Thomson, James Reynolds, Michael Mignot, Jalen Johnson
Substitutions:
70′ Cobblah for Edwards
82′ Reynolds for McDonald (B)
90+3′ Johnson for Bademosi
107′ Martins for Akintunde
117′ Mignot for McDonald (M)
Goals:
Michael Amaeshike (St Neots) 13′ 0-1
Izzy Bademosi 73′ 1-1
James Hatch (St Neots) 80′ 1-2
Teddy Stacey 84′ 2-2
Jalen Johnson 105′ 3-2
Yellow cards: Akintunde, Cosson, Stacey, Smith
Red card: Smith (2 X Yellows)

REPORT

SAINTS TIED IN NEOTS

In a match that mirrored Saturday’s excitement, Barking pulled off a remarkable comeback to turn a 1-0 deficit into a thrilling 3-2 win over St Neots Town, all while playing the entirety of extra time with ten men.

Max Spence’s heroic penalty save in added time helped to ensure Barking’s place in the second qualifying round of the FA Cup, against Gorleston on September 14th. With Athletic Newham’s elimination, we remain the last Essex Senior League club standing in this year’s competition.

While the Blues may have some luck on their side, their relentless spirit and refusal to give up were evident throughout the match. There was only one change to the starting eleven, with Bradley McDonald replacing James Reynolds.

Barking started brightly, creating the first chance in the third minute when a throw-in caused problems for the St Neots defence. Andy Greenslade played the ball to Bradley McDonald, whose shot was well saved by James Goff in the Saints goal. Five minutes later, a ball forward from Juwon Akintunde found Izzy Bademosi in space, but his effort was cleared away. Despite enjoying the majority of the attacking play, Barking couldn’t find the breakthrough.

Their failure to capitalise proved costly. In the 13th minute, hesitation in the Barking defence allowed St Neots to seize possession and Michael Amaeshike lashed the ball into the net with a superb finish to put the visitors 1-0 up. After conceding, Barking struggled to regain their rhythm. St Neots looked dangerous on the counter, and the home side found it difficult to keep   possession of the ball, resulting in more half-chances for the visitors. Marcel McDonald came close to levelling the score on the half-hour mark after being set up by Greenslade, but his shot went wide. Bradley McDonald also had a good chance in the 41st minute, but his effort skimmed the bar on the way over. Barking went into halftime a goal down.

The second half saw Barking dominate possession, while St Neots were content to sit back and counter-attack. As the hour mark approached, the game became increasingly heated, with tempers flaring and the intensity rising. Despite both teams’ efforts, neither looked likely to score again – until like on Saturday Barking strike, with seventeen minutes left on the clock Jerrold Cobblah crossed into the box, the ball went across the box and the incoming Izzy Bademosi fired home for 1-1. 

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However, the celebrations were short-lived. Just three minutes later, a long ball forward from Goff was headed into Barking’s box and James Hatch managed to poke the ball past Spence to restore St Neots’ lead. Barking, undeterred, continued to press and were rewarded in the 84th minute. Jay Bacon took a quick free kick, and Teddy Stacey reacted first to poke the ball home and level the score again at 2-2. 

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With tensions boiling, Juwon Akintunde nearly gave Barking the lead in the 87th minute, but his shot was expertly turned over by Goff. The drama peaked in the second minute of added time when Spence committed a foul that resulted in a penalty for St Neots. However, Spence went from villain to hero by guessing correctly and saving Rhys Thorpe’s spot kick, keeping Barking in the cup. Minutes later, Barking were reduced to ten men when Miles Smith received a second yellow and subsequent red card for a high challenge. Despite the disadvantage, Barking almost won it at the death as Jalen Johnson ran into the box and squares the ball but the scuffed clearance by Dammy Nickels rebounded to James Reynolds whose shot hit the post.

With the game entering extra time, Barking, down to ten men, showed incredible resolve and managed to find a way to win the tie. Four minutes in, Reynolds twisted and turned into the box and unleashed a shot that Goff turned behind. Then, in the 105th minute, Marcel McDonald drove forward and, although his shot wasn’t on target, Jalen Johnson was perfectly positioned to run in and fire home what proved to be the winner, making it 3-2 to Barking.

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In the second half of extra time, apart from an early blocked shot from Reynolds, most of the play took place in Barking’s half. St Neots threw everything forward, but Max Spence, the man of the match, was imperious with his defenders, putting their bodies on the line to repel every St Neots attack, while Johnson and Nelly Martins tried to relieve the pressure by advancing forward whenever possible.

Ultimately, Barking held firm and saw out the final minutes to secure a memorable win. The Blues now move on to face Gorleston in the second qualifying round of the FA Cup on September 14th in Great Yarmouth. Before that, we return to Essex Senior League action at home against West Essex on Friday evening.

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.

MATCH PHOTOS

Barking FC v St Neots Town FC - Tuesday September 3rd 2024

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MATCH PROGRAMME

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