STATISTICS

Date: Saturday 12th August 2023
Kick-off: 3pm
Competition: Essex Senior League
Venue: Lawtech Stadium
Attendance: 53
Starters: Harry Girling, Kenedi Dariri, Ciaran Burke, Dan Okah, Henry Mabassa, Harvey Brown (C), Brad Rowland, Fahad Nynja, Isioma Richard, Martin Tuohy, George Okoye
Substitutes: Kai Haysman, Tom Troubridge, Gabriel Oloko, Samraj Gill, Chris Adu-Gyamfi
Substitutions:
66′ Gill for Rowland
80′ Adu-Gyamfi for Tuohy
87′ Haysman for Okoye
88′ Oloko  for Burke
90+3′ Troubridge for Browne
Goals:
Richard 4′ 1-0
Kieran Southgate (Stanway) 22′ 1-1
Dariri 34′ 2-1
Andrew Fennell (Stanway) 46′ 2-2
Mabassa 68′ 3-2
Nynja 75′ 4-2
Yellow cards: Rowland, Mabassa, Okoye
Red cards: None

REPORT

BARKING SEIZE THE GAME TO WIN THE POINTS

After Tuesday’s defeat against Tilbury and two consecutive goalless league games the Blues got going again with a 4-2 victory over Stanway Rovers.

Ciaran Burke and George Okoye made their first starts of the season as did Dan Okah wearing a Barking shirt for the first time since April 2013 – Ricky Tarbard wore the number two shirt for Stanway as he did in over 200 appearances for Barking.

The opening minutes saw Barking setting the tempo with their play and just four minutes into the game, a well-executed pass from Brad Rowland found Isioma Richard in a prime position. Displaying good composure, Richard calmly slotted the ball past Stanway goalkeeper Alfie Margilani for the first goal.

As the clock ticked on, both teams looked to score: Ciaran Burke’s efforts nearly came to fruition  in the eighth minute when his precise cross narrowly eluded Martin Tuohy’s waiting boot. Stanway nearly seized their first opportunity in the 13th minute, capitalising on a momentary lapse in Barking’s defence. However, home keeper Harry Girling’s quick reflexes and legs prevented any damage to the scoreline. The action continued with Stanway coming more into the game and in the 20th minute, a poor throw-in from Barking provided Stanway with a chance, but thankfully the resulting shot found the side netting. Stanway’s persistence paid off and in the 22nd minute a defensive blunder handed Kieran Southgate a simple opportunity to equalise which he took. The latter stages of the first half witnessed a period of Barking dominance. Stanway’s goalkeeper, Alfie Margilani, was called upon to make crucial saves, denying Okoye and Richard. Meanwhile, Andrew Fennell of Stanway tried to exploit the flanks but was thwarted by his own profligacy, firing over on two separate occasions. The momentum pendulum swung back in Barking’s favour after the half-hour mark. Brad Rowland orchestrated a sequence of passes, culminating in Tuohy feeding Kenedi Dariri who curled the ball into the net, ending the move in a spectacular fashion and restoring Barking’s lead. 

With six minutes to half time Fennell leaves Burke on the deck before firing wide and he probably should’ve done better. There are no further dramas and Barking go into half time a goal up..

Just after the restart Stanway found themselves level at 2-2, a defensive lapse down the right flank paved the way for Fennell to equalise for a second time, tapping the ball into an unguarded net. As the game progressed, an unfortunate trend of fouls emerged hampering the flow of the match, nevertheless the game did get going again and it was Barking who wrested the initiative from the visitors. But first in the 63rd minute, Stanway nearly capitalised on another defensive slip-up, only for Fennell’s inexplicably to pass the ball back to the waiting arms of the grateful Girling with the goal gaping. Barking retook the lead from a set piece on 68, as George Okoye’s corner found the towering Henry Mabassa, who thundered a header into the net to make it 3-2. 

The game’s climax arrived in the 75th minute, with Richard intercepting the ball and finding Fahad Nynja who seized the opportunity, skilfully evading a defender before expertly guiding the ball past Margilani and slotting the ball home to stretch the lead to 4-2.

From that point onward Barking exhibited solid defending to protect their advantage, limiting Stanway to scraps as the resolute backline held firm securing both a welcome victory and three valuable points in an encounter that moved from side to side before settling on the Blues

This win moves us up to fifth place five points behind leaders Romford FC who have an unblemished record so far this season and the Boro are our next opponents on Wednesday evening (August 16th) with a 7:45pm kick off at the Lawtech Stadium.

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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