Essex Finch League - 23/1/10
Newham 0
Barking & Dagenham 5 (Thomas 4, Turner)
BARKING & DAGENHAM PRIMARY Schools produced a dominant performance to demolish Newham on Saturday. Despite a six week break, the District side scored five unanswered goals to secure three vital Essex League points.
The open stages of the game were scrappy, with both sides eager to blow off the cobwebs after their extended break.
It was Barking & Dagenham who quickly gained the upper hand. Michael Turner and Max Watters were particularly pivotal in the centre of the park and strike pairing of Sorba Thomas and MJ Folkes were looking dangerous.
After some good work from Ricky Morris, Thomas had too much pace for the Newham defence, but his effort was well saved by the home keeper. Both Morris and fellow wide man, Jayke Welch, were eager to beat their markers and Welch set up Watters on the edge of the box, however his shot was deflected.
Powerful
Folkes then produced a powerful run past the static home
rearguard, but his shot was straight at the busy Newham keeper.
Barking & Dagenham continued to have total control of the game and it seemed just a matter of time before they took the lead.
With Newham resorting to long balls forward, the centre half pairing of Jack Richardson and Daniel Parish had to be at their best. Such was the dominance of the visitors, full backs Daniel John and Scott Mitchell, were free to bomb forward - Mitchell almost creating an opening for himself with a marauding run into the Newham box but a desperate challenge prevented him getting his shot on goal.
Turn The Screw
Thomas and Folkes were both denied by good saves by the home keeper as Barking & Dagenham began to turn
the screw.
John then nearly grabbed his first District goal when he met Watters' in-swinging corner, but the St. Margaret's man just failed to get enough on the ball.
Watters then stung the palms of Newham's keeper and it seemed that it was going to be one of those days. Newham offered very little going forward, meaning Alfie Reynolds in the visitors goal, was a virtual spectator.
Quality
With twenty minutes on the clock, the almost incessant pressure finally told as the deadlock was finally broken. Skipper Richardson won the ball and fed Watters. He in turn released Thomas who bore down on goal and grabbed his ninth of the season with a cool finish.
One soon became two with an exquisite goal. John, Richardson and Turner combined with one touch football and Watters' pinpoint through ball split the Newham defence before Thomas was on hand to calmly chip the ball over the onrushing keeper. It was a goal of real quality and highlighted the gap in class between the two teams.
Newham came out fired up for the second period, keen to take the game to Barking & Dagenham. However they found no way through the well marshaled away defence.
The visitors continued to boss the middle of the park as Jesse Amoh nearly grabbed a third, but his fiercely struck shot just flew wide.
Aaron Molloy almost tricked his way through the Newham back line, with some neat footwork before the third goal eventually arrived. Molloy set Folkes free down the right and his excellent cross found Thomas, who fired home from twelve yards to complete his hat-trick.
Pressure
Newham were now a beaten side as Barking & Dagenham continued to pile on the pressure.
Molloy had a great chance to open his District account but dwelt too long on the ball and Watters then skipped through the Newham defence but his shot went wide. Welch went even closer when he cut in from the left but a brave block took the sting off his effort.
Barking & Dagenham did stretch their lead when Amoh's intelligent through ball found Turner. He picked out Thomas who finished for his fourth of the game.
Turner then put the gloss on a good team performance with a goal of real quality. Turner took a free kick on the left which was cleared back to the Warren man, he went past a challenge, before cutting back inside and curling the ball into the top corner. It capped an outstanding display by the Warren palymaker and just about reflected the difference between the sides.
Barking & Dagenham will be happy with the victory, which on another day could have been by a greater margin. However, it was the three points that keep them in the title race.
