STATISTICS

Date: Saturday 13th April 2024
Kick-off: 3pm
Competition: Essex Senior League
Venue: Lawtech Stadium
Attendance: 154
Starters: Max Spence, George Forrest, Joe Clark, Jack Folan, Pat Ahern, Kenedi Dariri (C), Sam Dowridge, Bleron Ademi, Fahad Nyanja, Karl Kayembe, Izzy Bademosi
Substitutes: Brad Rowland, Shaye La-Rose, Jack Dickinson, Declan Nche, Warren Kayembe
Substitutions:
53′ Dickinson for Folan
76′ Nche for Dowridge
84′ Kayembe for Nyanja
Goal:
Ike Okwusogu (West Essex) 1′ 0-1
Forrest 7′ 1-1
Ahern 42′ 2-1
Nyanja 43′ 3-1
Nyanja 74′ 4-1
Bademosi 90+4 5-1
Yellow cards: Ahern
Red cards: None

REPORT

Barking recovered from a nightmare start to record a comfortable 5-1 victory over West Essex. West Essex took an immediate lead before a George Forrest equaliser, with Pat Ahern and Fahad Nyanja ensuring a 3-1 lead at the break. Another goal for Nyanja alongside one for Izzy Bademosi late on secured the points.

West Essex couldn’t believe their luck just seconds in: -the ball was played back to Bleron Ademi but his clearance was blocked by Ike Okwusogu and the ball fell kindly enough for him to run on and slot the ball past Max Spence to give the away side a shock lead seconds in. Barking to their credit however were not perturbed by this and had their equaliser with seven minutes on the clock – a long throw was pinballing in the West Essex box before it fell to George Forrest on the edge of the box and his half-volley nestled into the bottom left corner of the net. Half chances fell to Kenedi Dariri and Izzy Bademosi as Barking continued to push, but they were reminded of the danger of their opposition after 30 minutes as Okwusogu managed to get past Pat Ahern but his powerful shot was straight at Spence. As half time beckoned, Barking continued to push and ended up with not one but two deserved goals – firstly Bleron Ademi’s driven corner to the far post found Pat Ahern who used the power of the cross to nod the ball into the net. Barking doubled their lead moments later as they this time regained the ball shortly after kick-off – after good interplay with Bademosi Fahad Nyanja was played through on goal and he expertly opened his body up before side footing the ball past the goalkeeper and into the bottom right corner of the net to give Barking a 3-1 lead at half time.

The second half passed mainly without note for 30 minutes – Barking were happy to keep the ball in warm conditions with West Essex posing little threat to our experienced backline of George Forrest, Pat Ahern, Kenedi Dariri and Joe Clark. Barking did make it four after 74 minutes – Sam Dowridge playing Jack Dickinson down the wing and his low cross was met at the far post by Fahad Nyanja who gratefully poked the ball home. Barking still had time to make it five and they did so in stoppage time with more good football – this time substitute Warren Kayembe was released down the right wing and he cut the ball back to Izzy Bademosi who shot low and hard past Kris Ozols in the West Essex goal and into the net to score a deserved goal for him and round off a deserved three points for Barking.

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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