STATISTICS

BARKING WIN 5-3 ON PENALTIES
Date: Wednesday 2nd October 2024
Kick-off: 7:45pm
Competition: Essex Senior Cup First Round
Venue: Burroughs Park
Attendance: TBC
Starters: Max Spence, Colin Mugoya-Tabingwa, Steven Wade, Sam Edwards, Ryan Cosson, Deivi Kreka, Theophilus Lukyamuzi, Teddy Stacey, Juwon Akintunde, Sam Shaban, Jalen Johnson
Substitutes: Danny Taylor, Nelly Martins, Kyron Cooper, Anthony Folkes, Andre Anderson
Substitutions:
53′ Martins for Lukyamuzi
53′ Cooper for Johnson
61′ Taylor for Wade
86′ Anderson for Edwards
Goals:
Tyler Jacobi (White Ensign) 6′ 0-1
Wade 39′ 1-1
Chinedu Duru (White Ensign) 55′ 1-2
Shaban 61′ 2-2
Robbie Allen (White Ensign) 82′ 2-3
Kreka 86′ 3-3
Yellow cards: None 
Red cards: None

REPORT

BARKING ARE SPOT ON

On a wet evening at Burroughs Park, Barking managed to squeeze into the second round of the Essex Senior Cup after a thrilling 5-3 win on penalties against White Ensign. 

Despite never leading during the game, Barking’s resilience paid off in the shootout, with Max Spence saving the decisive spot-kick, backed up by his colleagues who scored all five spot kicks.

Barking, fielding a stronger lineup than in their Errington Challenge Cup defeat to West Essex, were still caught off guard in the opening moments, and it was no surprise after six minutes Ensign’s Taylor Jacobi lobbed Spence punishing Barking’s continual failure to clear the ball properly, putting the hosts ahead. Despite the early setback, Barking slowly found their footing. Two quick corners in the tenth minute brought some momentum, with Ryan Cosson heading over from the second. Barking’s best chance of the first half came on 19 minutes, as Sam Shaban found Juwon Akintunde, whose shot smacked the post but stayed out. White Ensign continued to look dangerous on the counter, but Barking levelled in the 39th minute thanks to a freak goal. Steven Wade’s shot-cross flew over White Ensign’s keeper, Brad Davidson, and nestled into the net. 

Just before halftime, Ensign thought they had retaken the lead following another quick counter through Chinedu Duru, but the goal was ruled out for offside, leaving the score 1-1 at the break.

The second half began with Barking trying to find a breakthrough, with Jalen Johnson’s good work setting up Akintunde for a chance, but the angle was too tight, and his shot found the side netting. Barking then surrendered possession in midfield, allowing an unchecked run into the box and Duru this time onside restored the home side’s lead in the 55th minute. Just two minutes later, Spence kept Barking in the game with a point-blank save with his legs to prevent a third and in the scheme of things proved to be a crucial moment. This was emphasised in the 60th minute when Kyron Cooper’s quick break led to a cross which missed Akintunde but was returned low by Nelly Martins. Akintunde’s close range shot was blocked, but Sam Shaban bundled home the rebound for his second goal in as many games, levelling the score at 2-2. 

The game entered a lull as the wet conditions took their toll, but there was a sense that more goals were coming. On 82 minutes from our own corner Ensign broke away and when Kyron Cooper despite his best efforts loses a tackle and Robbie Allen is away and bearing down on our goal and he calmly slotted past the woefully exposed Spence to make it 3-2. A very poor goal to concede from a defensive standpoint. Thankfully, Barking wasn’t done yet. Four minutes later, a Sam Edwards corner was played to Martins and he crossed to the head of Deivi Kreka to score his first goal for the club, to make it 3-3. 

The final minutes of normal time unsurprisingly passed without incident and the Referee’s final whistle meant a penalty shoot out.

Barking took the first penalty, with Teddy Stacey converting to make it 1-0. Juwon Akintunde, Kyron Cooper both scored, with Trevor Harding and Austin Smart replying for White Ensign. The crucial moment came when the sixth penalty from Robbie Allen was saved by Spence. Advantage Barking. Sam Shaban then made it 4-2, and despite Callum Ferris making it 4-3, Danny Taylor sealed the victory for Barking with a well-taken penalty to win the shootout 5-3.

We now face Buckhurst Hill in the second round, who beat Cannons Wood 4-2. Before that, we return to league action against Little Oakley this coming Saturday 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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