STATISTICS

Date: Saturday 25th November 2023
Kick-off: 2pm
Competition: Essex Senior League
Venue: Spa Road
Attendance: 100
Starters: Ben Lane, Brad Rowland, Kenedi Dariri, Jack Folan,  George Forrest, Fahad Nyanja (C), Greg Akpele, Karl Kayembe, Anthony Martin, Declan Nche, Shaye La-Rose
Substitutes: Bleron Ademi, Dominic Wynter-Stephens, Joshya Fisayo, Tim Monsheju
Substitutions:
54′ Ademi for Martin
90+2′ Monsheju for Akpele
Goals:
Kayembe 10′ 1-0
Akepel 88′ 2-0
Yellow cards: Kayembe, Rowland, Ademi
Red cards: None

REPORT

STANWAY SHUDDER TO A HALT AGAINST DEFIANT BLUES

Barking took all three points away from recent high scorers Stanway Rovers and made it four clean sheets in a row as they secured a 2-0 victory – an early goal from Karl Kayembe and a late goal from Greg Akpele gave the Blues a deserved victory.

We were without Luke Hirst who was suspended after being sent off against Frenford and Jack Dickinson also banned after accruing five yellow cards. Our latest signing Dominic Wynter-Stephens, formerly of Tunbridge Wells was an unused sub.

As mentioned above Stanway since changing management have been in good form climbing away from the bottom rungs of the league table by winning five of their last six games and in their previous two matches beat Hullbridge Sports (5-0) and Woodford Town (5-2). Rovers also included a couple of former Blues in George Okoye who started and Ricky Tarbard was an unused sub. 

Barking had the better of the first ten minutes and were rewarded for their pressure as they won the ball back off Stanway near the middle of the park, the ball was dinked over the top for Greg Akpele in the left side of the box and he cut it back to Karl Kayembe who curled the ball across Stanway keeper Alfie Margliani and into the bottom right corner of the net.

Stanway came into the game as the first half wore on but Ben Lane in the Barking goal was mainly untroubled. But it was Barking who went closest before half time: Jack Folan’s delicate free kick eluded everyone before hitting a defender and falling close to Akpele who stretched to claw an effort towards goal but Margliani managed to smother the effort.

The second half contained even less of note for the first 30 minutes. Both sides defended resolutely in cold conditions on a bobbly pitch. Brad Rowland went close to securing the points after 79 minutes but he saw his effort from a narrow angle palmed away by Margliani. Rowland was involved when Barking did get their second after 88 minutes, Folan slotted the ball for Rowland down the right wing of the box and he drove the ball across goal where it found Greg Akpele two yards out and he had an easy tap-in to spark jubilant celebrations and secure all three points for Barking, who successfully negotiated the remaining minutes to stretch our unbeaten run to five games.

It is eleven days until our next match as White Ensign are still in the FA Vase so next Saturday’s game has been rescheduled to January 13th and we will travel to Woodford Town on Wednesday December 6th to resume our league programme.

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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