STATISTICS

Date: Saturday 10th August 2024
Kick-off: 3pm
Competition: Essex Senior League
Venue: Station Road
Attendance: 82
Starters: Max Spence, Miles Smith, Jay Bacon, Sam Edwards, Teddy Stacey,Chris John (C), Jerold Cobblah, Marcel McDonald, Juwon Akintunde, Izzy Bademosi, Sam Dowridge
Substitutes: Nelly Martins, Teddy Bowden, Stephen Stafford, Steven Wade, Andre Embolo
Substitutions:
45+2′ Wade for John
56′ Martins for Bademosi
64′ Embolo for Dowridge
Goals:
Bryn Thorpe (Takeley) 21′ 0-1
McDonald 63′ 1-1
Jamel Obeng (Takeley) 68′ 1-2
John Thomas (Takeley) 90’+1 1-3
Yellow cards: Cobblah, Wade, Smith, McDonald
Red cards: None

REPORT

BARKING GET TAKEN AT TAKELEY

Barking fell to their first defeat of the season and only our second league defeat of 2024 at Station Road today, succumbing 3-1 to Takeley in a match marred by head injuries to Chris John and home keeper Jarvis Monk. In the end a lack of clinical finishing did make it all the harder for the yellow shirted Blues.

By not creating and taking enough chances they were beaten by a home team who will suspect they may have scored more goals than the three times they did find the net.

Sam Dowridge returned to the club and went straight into the team and was the only change to the starting eleven from Tuesday night’s FA Cup win over Tring Athletic, replacing Nelly Martins.

The match started with both teams on the front foot, but it was the home side that had the better of the early exchanges. After seven minutes Sam Dowridge, nearly connected with a cross from Jay Bacon in the seventh minute, but he couldn’t quite connect with his head and the chance went begging. Two minutes later, Sam Edwards had an opportunity from a free kick, but his effort sailed over the bar. Despite Chris John’s solid presence in defence, Takeley broke the deadlock in the 21st minute when a well-worked move down Barking’s left flank resulted in Bryn Thorpe tapping in from close range to give the home side the lead. Barking attempted to respond, Izzy Bademosi had a shot which was wide and  there was not enough sustained threat in the final third to unsettle the home defence. Takeley continued to threaten, with Jamel Obeng on 26 missing a good chance after being given an advantage following a foul. Barking came close to equalising a minute later when Miles Smith delivered a dangerous ball into the box, Juwon Akintunde won possession, turned, and fired a shot towards goal, but it struck the wrong side of the post and bounced clear, allowing Takeley to escape unscathed. 

Ten minutes before halftime John and Takeley keeper Monk clashed going for a cross. After a twelve minute delay for treatment both players were substituted and subsequently taken to the hospital. The loss of John proved to be a turning point, as our defence lost its earlier solidity. In the lengthy total of first half added time the home team had chances to take advantage of our defensive reshuffle and probably should have extended their lead: In the third minute Max Spence made a crucial save with his legs to deny Obeng and seven minutes later he had a stroke of luck when a poor clearance bounced off a Takeley player, onto the bar before going over.

The second half began with Spence again in action, within two minutes saving from Thorpe. Takeley wasted another opportunity and the game then became increasingly disjointed with numerous stoppages, fouls and some refereeing decisions that fell into the category of mysterious. Barking’s persistence finally paid off in the 63rd minute when Akintunde flicked the ball on, replacement keeper Jack Bull hesitated, allowing Marcel McDonald to poke the ball past him into the net for the equaliser.

However, parity was short-lived as five minutes later, a Barking corner led to a counter-attack by Takeley, with Obeng making amends for his earlier miss by slipping the ball past Spence to restore the home side’s lead. Frustrations were compounded with fifteen minutes left when Akintunde was sin-binned for ten minutes after arguing with the referee about a foul that wasn’t given. Upon his return, Barking struggled to create clear-cut chances, with Jay Bacon’s effort being blocked, probably the one of note. In the first minute of added time, Barking’s defence retreated under pressure, back to their own goal and without a telling tackle being made the ball finally breaks to substitute John Thomas who lashed the ball past Spence, who has no chance of stopping the third Takeley goal to cap off a very bad day at the office.

Looking ahead seven days, we face a tough challenge next Saturday as we travel to Oakside to take on Redbridge in the Preliminary Round of the FA Cup. If we are to successfully negotiate this hurdle an immediate improvement is required.

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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