STATISTICS

Date: Saturday 31st August 2024
Kick-off: 3pm
Competition: FA Cup First Qualifying Round
Venue: The Premier Plus Stadium
Attendance: 338
Starters: Max Spence, Miles Smith, Jay Bacon, Sam Edwards, Ryan Cosson (C), Teddy Stacey, James Reynolds, Andy Greenslade, Juwon Akintunde, Marcel McDonald, Izzy Bademosi
Substitutes: Bradley McDonald, Joshua Jackson, Michael Mignot, Noah Adejokun, Olu Shobowale, Bradley Monks, Charlie Thomson
Substitutions:
52′ McDonald (B) for Reynolds
80′ Adejokun for Greenslade
Goals:
Akintunde  10′ 1-0
Sam Willis (St Neots) 24′ 1-1
Kieran Barnes (St Neots) 48′ 1-2
Robbie Parker (OG) 70′ 2-2
Yellow cards: Bacon, Adejokun, Edwards
Red cards: None

REPORT

NO SEPERATION AT ST NEOTS 

If this game were a Hollywood blockbuster, it would be talked about for its thrills, spills, and a rollercoaster ride of emotions, it was a great advert for non-league football and the magic of the FA Cup as the two sides could not be separated. 

Barking showed resilience, riding their luck in the second half, much like their previous round victory over Redbridge and battled their way to a 2-2 draw against St Neots Town to force a replay on Tuesday evening.

There were several changes from last week’s win over FC Baresi, with Sam Edwards, Jay Bacon, Andy Greenslade, Teddy Stacey, Marcel McDonald, and Izzy Bademosi all returning to the starting lineup. 

With Hassan Nalbant cup-tied and Jerrold Cobblah out with the flu, there was a debut for Noah Adejokun, younger brother of Abraham Adejokun, who featured for Barking from 2007 to 2010.

The game began with both teams cautiously sizing each other up, but it was the visitors, Barking, who struck first. In the tenth minute, a St Neots free kick was intercepted, leading to a string of passes. Finally Jay Bacon slipped the ball inside to Juwon Akintunde, who fired home from a tight angle to make it 1-0. 

St Neots responded swiftly, with Michael Amaeshike weaving his way into the Barking box just five minutes later, but his shot was blocked for a throw. Moments later, Akintunde nearly doubled the lead after winning the ball back, but his effort went wide. In the 24th minute, Barking’s defence was undone down the left flank. A swift run into the box led to a pass to Sam Willis, who capitalised to equalise for St Neots. The game continued to be a tense battle, with both sides struggling to carve out clear opportunities in the final third. However, the momentum shifted towards St Neots in the 36th minute when a cross flashed across Barking’s goal, and Rhys Thorpe’s header from the resulting corner struck the post. St Neots nearly took the lead in added time, with Harvey Williams finding space in a position similar to Akintunde’s earlier goal but he fired wide. Just before halftime, Williams delivered another dangerous cross, but it was too high for Thorpe, and the teams went into the break level at 1-1.

The second half saw St Neots continue to cause problems on the wings, and their pressure paid off in the 48th minute. Connor Furlong, a constant threat down the left, cut inside and set up Kieran Barnes, who slotted past Spence to make it 2-1 to the hosts. 

St Neots kept up the pressure, and Barking were fortunate not to fall further behind. A long throw into the box in the 55th minute caused chaos, but Spence produced a low save to keep Barking in the game. Ten minutes later, Barnes was almost through for a third, but he was denied and the ball fell to the well placed Danny Baulk, but he blasted his shot over the bar. Barking, however, refused to roll over. In the 70th minute, Andy Greenslade found Izzy Bademosi in the box, whose cross was turned into his own net by St Neots defender Robbie Parker with a full-length diving header, for an own goal to make it 2-2.

Shortly after the equaliser, St Neots had a big appeal for a penalty for handball, but the referee was not inclined to answer the home appeals. The drama continued, and in the 75th minute, Spence slipped while saving a shot, but Jay Bacon was perfectly positioned to clear Barnes’ follow-up off the line. St Neots kept pushing and forced a series of corners, with one effort from Amaeshike hitting the bar. As the clock ticked down, the closing stages were played almost entirely in Barking’s half and mainly around our box. In the 85th minute, Marcel McDonald setup Noah Adejokun for a rare Barking chance, but his shot lacked power and was comfortably saved by James Goff. With two minutes remaining, St Neots came agonisingly close to a winner when a Barnes free kick struck the post. A chaotic scramble ensued, but Barking somehow managed to clear their lines. St Neots did not come as close again, and the match ended in a 2-2 draw.

As the Blues never gave up there is now a second bite at the cherry on Tuesday evening as we host St Neots at the Lawtech Stadium for the replay. It promises to be another thrilling encounter as both sides vie for a place in the next round.

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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