STATISTICS

Date: Saturday 5th April 2025
Kick-off: 3pm
Competition: Essex Senior League
Venue: Lawtech Stadium
Attendance: 74
Starters: Dan Purdue, Charlie Thomson, Caleb Dennis, Sam Edwards, Pat Ahern ©, Lorenzo Saponara, Akiljo Balliu, Alfie Attrill, Juwon Akintunde, Sam Shaban, Tyrese Sibanda
Substitutes: Teddy Stacey, Tony Martin, Hassan Nalbant, Michele Maccari, Fionn Murphy
Substitutions:
58’ Martin for Sibanda
59’ Murphy for Balliu
59’ Nalbant for Shaban
59’ Maccari for Akintunde
80’ Stacey for Edwards 
Goals:
None
Yellow cards: Attrill, Dennis
Red cards: None

REPORT

INTO THE PLAYOFFS

It was a turgid game but a goalless draw against Stansted secured Barking’s passage into the playoffs for the second season running. 

The first half went by without a single chance of note for either side and if you do suffer from insomnia this would be a recommended cure. 

The second half wasn’t much better but a game of football threatened to break out as Stansted were awarded a penalty with ten minutes gone, Sam Uwandu being bundled down in the box by Pat Ahern, for our fifth penalty conceded in the last six games. Carl Conway stepped up to take the penalty but for the second time this season Dan Purdue guessed the right way to deny Stansted a goal from the penalty spot. 

Barking had their own penalty shout moments later as Sam Shaban was bundled down as he attempted to turn a defender but the referee was unmoved, Pat Ahern nodded over from a Sam Edwards corner with twenty minutes to go. 

Barking had their first shot on target after 85 minutes as Hassan Nalbant’s low effort was comfortably gathered by Charlie Mann in the visiting goal. There was extensive second half injury time thanks to what can generously be called “game management” by Stansted and Barking should have stolen the points – a cross into the box ended up being headed into the air and looping under the bar – Nalbant attempted to get to the ball first before a defender but he couldn’t get his head over the ball and his header from a yard or so out hit the bar and went out, in a move that summed up a very poor game.

There is a Friday night fixture up next as we are at the Lawtech Stadium again but are the away team as we take on Romford with a 7:45pm kick off.

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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