28/11/09 - London SFA Crisp Shield
Barking & Dagenham 3 (Thomas, Folkes 2)
Croydon 1
BARKING & DAGENHAM UNDER 11's District team produced an outstanding second half performance to defeat Croydon and book their place in the LSFA Crisp Shield semi-finals. In a thrilling game, and an excellent advert for Schools' football, Croydon were put to the sword for the fourth season running.
Despite the heavy pitch, both sides tried to get the ball down and play in the early stages although it was Barking & Dagenham who settled the quicker.
Max Watters almost played in Jack Kemsley but the ball was cut out by Croydon's Ryan Green before Watters himself had an opportunity to fire a strike on goal before he was closed down.
After a while, Croydon also began to threaten with the lively Fraser Garratt up front. The Barking & Dagenham rearguard were put under pressure but the centre half pairing of Jack Richardson and Scott Mitchell were equal to everything.
Dangerous
Barking & Dagenham almost took the lead when Richardson saw his snap shot strike the post and bounce away to safety. Moments later, a dangerous Watters corner found MJ Folkes but his effort flew over from close range.
With both sides keen to grab the upper hand, the tackles were flying in and the game became a little scrappy. Michael Turner and Ricky Morris battled away in the centre of the park and, with the competitive struggle almost causing a stalemate, it took a moment of class to break the deadlock.
Sorba Thomas, who had been well marshalled by Rejoyden Booysen, dropped deep to get the ball before mesmerising the opposition with a surging run and shot which gave Jack Webb-Olley, the Croydon keeper, no chance.
The goal seemed to spur Croydon on as they began to dictate proceedings. The midfield pairing of Sam Woods and Reis De Meza began to have an influence on the game and they looked more and more likely to grab the equaliser.
Threat
The home side were given a warning of the threat when Pepe Alexandre saw his header from an in swinging corner bundled away by the desperate Barking & Dagenham defence.
However it didn't take long for parity to de restored. Garratt found space on the right and his pinpoint through ball released Anderson, who finished with aplomb.
The half finished with Croydon on top and the score at 1-1.
Barking & Dagenham came out for the second half with a spring in their step and they were quickly back on top. Jesse Amoh and Nathan Casey combined well on the left, leading to a chance for Kemsley to get his first District goal - however, his shot lacked enough power to beat Webb-Olley.
Croydon were happy to sit back and soak up the pressure and, with the pacy Lloyd Lyesight up front, they remained dangerous on the counter attack.
Watters, now in the centre of the park, was increasingly influential and his raking cross-field pass nearly released Thomas until the boggy surface held the ball up.
The home side went closer still moments later, when Watters powered into the box only to see his shot superbly parried by Webb-Olley. Morris then swung an inviting ball into the Croydon area but even though Thomas connected well, Webb-Olley was again equal to it and kept his side in the tie.
One-Way Traffic
It was all one-way traffic now but Barking & Dagenham with the impressive Webb-Olley continuing to offer sole resistance. Croydon were no pinned back in their own half and were resorting to hopeful balls forward that Alfie Reynolds swept up in the home goal.
With seven minutes left on the clock and extra time beckoning, an inspired subsition finally saw Barking & Dagenham's pressure pay off. Folkes was introduced in an unfamiliar striking position and the St Margaret's man surged through the Croydon defence, leaving them in his wake, before firing home to send his side into a well-deserved lead.
Croydon knew that they had to push forward and take risks, but Richardson and Mitchell were immense and repelled all that was thrown at them.
With time almost up, Folkes made sure of the victory with a carbon copy third goal after Casey and Amoh combined to set him on his way.
The goal was just reward for the home side's efforts, particularly the way they played in the second half. The final whistle brought scenes of joy for the home side who must now wait to learn their semi-final opponents.
Hopes are high they can go one step further then the runners-up slot of the last two campaigns.
