STATISTICS

Date: Saturday 21st September 2024
Kick-off: 2pm
Competition: FA Vase Second Qualifying Round
Venue: Lawtech Stadium
Attendance: 78
Starters: Max Spence, Miles Smith, Jay Bacon, Teddy Stacey,,Ryan Cosson (C), Alvin Kyeremeh, Panny Boxer, Jerrold Cobblah, Hassan Nalbant, Sam Shaban, Marcel McDonald
Substitutes: Juwon Akintunde, Bradley Monks, Bradley McDonald, Andre Anderson, Jalen Johnson
Substitutions:
58′ Johnson for Nalbant
67′ Anderson for Kyeremeh
78′ McDonald (B) for Boxer
78′ Akintunde for Shaban
Goals:
Jack Mitchell (Takeley) 10′ 0-1
Jack Mitchell (Takeley) 23′ 0-2
Lanre Balogun (Takeley) 58′ 0-3
Yellow cards: Nalbant, McDonald (M)
Red cards: None

REPORT

THE VASE CRACKS 

Barking were comfortably beaten for the second time this season by Takeley, knocking the Blues out of the FA Vase in the process. Takeley were well worth their 3-0 victory on a frustrating afternoon at the Lawtech Stadium for the home team.

There were two new players in the starting eleven: Panny Boxer and Alvin Kyeremeh plus a third debut from the bench for Andre Anderson

The first chance did fall to Barking with six minutes gone as Hassan Nalbant found himself in the D of the box with a pressuring defender for company but his low effort was straight at keeper Jarvis Monk. Takeley then took the lead after ten minutes, probably slightly against the run of the play as Jack Mitchell unleashed a thunderbolt into the top right corner of the net from about 30 yards. Barking’s vulnerable defensive line was exposed again after 23 minutes as the visitors doubled their lead, Takeley won the ball back at the halfway line thanks to a crunching (but very fair) tackle from Thomas Massey and the ball was threaded down the left for Jordan Wescott who cut the ball back for Mitchell in the box who powerfully side footed the ball back across Max Spence and into the net, to score his and Takeley’s second. Marcel McDonald went close for the Blues moments later after Sam Shaban drove forward but his effort from the edge of the box was into the side netting. Barking didn’t learn their lesson and were nearly punished again as Takeley cut through the Barking backline but they had Spence in goal to thank as he saved the effort with his feet.

Barking started slightly brighter in the second half including a long range effort from Miles Smith that just passed over the bar but it counted for nothing as the defensive line was cut open again after 58 minutes when Lanre Balogun was gifted the freedom of the Barking half to take the ball around Spence and slot into an empty net. 

Barking struggled to get close to breaking down a resolute Takeley defence and in reality struggled to keep the ball at all. It took 25 minutes for any other chance of note and it fell unsurprisingly to Takeley as an effort smacked the bar with the rebound being headed over. Barking did have some late efforts: Jalen Johnson seeing an effort saved by Monk when he really should have squared it. 

Miles Smith seeing his cross/shot whistle past the post and in injury time Juwon Akintunde saw his effort clawed away from goal by Monk but in reality it was a fair scoreline which sees Takeley progress to the First Round proper of the FA Vase and Barking to rue on two FA competition defeats in a week.

We are at home again on Tuesday evening as West Essex make a quick return

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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