10-17/4/10 - ESFA Jersey Festival

BARKING & DAGENHAM PRIMARY U11S DISTRICT side produced a dramatic finish to secure first place in the prestigious ESFA Jersey Festival of Football. MJ Folkes' last minute strike in the final game ensured top spot in a competition consisting of ten of the country's leading sides.
 
Barking & Dagenham started the week against Orpington and found themselves 3-1 down at half time, however a storming second half comeback saw them emerge 5-3 victors. Max Watters led the way with a superb hat trick, with MJ Folkes and Michael Turner adding the other goals.

Impressive

Day two saw an equally impressive performance against the host association Jersey. Watters was outstanding, scoring a second successive treble, the other goals coming from keeper-turned-striker, Jack Kemsley, as the District's power and pace were too much for the homesters.
 
The next game saw the District side produce another impressive performance, brushing aside the challenge of Chiltern 6-1. Watters scored his seventh of the week, adding to a Welch double and goals from Folkes, Ricky Morris and Jack Richardson. 
 
Three wins became four as Gloucester were dismissed with yet another powerful display of attacking football. Despite the score being goalless at the break, four unanswered efforts saw the side run out winners. Watters' goal scoring streak continued, after Michael Turner had broke the deadlock from long range. Kemsley grabbed his third of the week, before Nathan Casey rounded things off with a superb effort. 

High Hopes

Hopes were high of making it five when the side faced up to South Birmingham. Unfortunately, the side were unable to reach the heights of their previous games and crashed to a 4-0 reverse.
 
Despite the setback, the District side had done enough to progrss to the first place final, where they sqaured up to Plymouth - a side who had impressed the day before, with a 4-2 victory over Thurrock, which booked their place in the final.

Barking & Dagenham started brightly and deservedly took the lead, when Watters rounded the keeper and slotted home his ninth goal of a brilliant week.

Plymouth continued to push forward and levelled things up just before the break.

The second half saw Barking & Dagenham dominate and regain the lead, when Watters's effort flew in from a tight angle.

Raptures

With time running out, Plymouth looked to have denied the District side, when a long range free kick was squeezed home. But Barking & Dagenham weren't to be denied and with seconds on the clock, Casey released Folkes who nonchallantly chipped the onrushing Plymouth keeper. The goal sent the players, fans and staff into raptures and secured the Festival title. 
 
Co-manager Graeme Farquhar stated it was, "a great week, full of outstanding football, in which all fourteen players contributed and a ending that you could only dream of."
 
Colleague Dave Moore was equally chuffed, with not even the trouble getting home able to put a dampner on the week.

 

 

 

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