29/11/08 - Essex 7-a-sides

• Barking & Dagenham 0-1 Newham
• Barking & Dagenham 1-0 Thurrock  (McDermott)
• Barking & Dagenham 1-0 Waltham Forest (Monk)
• Final: Barking & Dagenham 1-3 Newham (Gelston)

BARKING AND DAGENHAM schools had to settle for the runners-up spot in the Essex 7-a-side Inter-District tournament on Saturday.

Hopes were high going into the competition with the squad confident of going all the way.

Pace

They started off against a powerful Newham side and had to be at their best as the game started off at a furious pace. Daniel Boyce fashioned an early chance for himself but the Newham keeper saved well and Newham looked dangerous coming forward. Alfie Malbon had to be alert to deny Newham an opener but the first half remained goalless.

The second half saw a number of strong tackles as both sides strived for the points on offer. With Louis Philips and Luke Gelston working tirelessly in the middle of the park, Barking & Dagenham looked to secure a vital goal: Jack McDermott almost grabbed it but his shot just flew wide. With time running out, Newham turned defence into attack and a neat passing move saw them score - and that was enough to secure the three points.

Bright

Going into their next game against Thurrock, Barking & Dagenham knew that only a win would do. They started brightly as Ernest Okoh was denied by some desperate defending. With birthday boy, Reno Turner, and Alec Monk solid at the back it was no surprise when they took the lead. Philips and Gelston combined well down the right and Philips' centre was fired home on the volley by McDermott. It was no more then Barking & Dagenham deserved for their positive start.

Inspired Form

The goal spurred Thurrock into life and Malbon was again at his best to twice deny Thurrock strikers. The opposition thought they had got back on level terms when their striker volleyed in but his joy was cut short by a whistle for handball. Thurrock continued to press in the second half but they found Monk and Turner resolute. And even when they breached the defence, they found keeper Malbon in inspired form. Barking & Dagenham still looked dangerous on the break. They could have wrapped up the points but Suji Odelusi was denied by a last ditch tackle.

Masterful

Barking & Dagenham knew a win in their last game would see them progress to the final but they started off slowly against Waltham Forest, who themselves could go through with a win. Barking & Dagenham could have been three goalsdown had it not been for another masterful display by keeper Malbon. The Henry Green stopper produced a series of top draw saves to deny a fired up Forest. He was backed up by another impressive display from Monk and Turner.

Improvement

With results now meaning a draw would suffice, Barking & Dagenham showed signs of improvement in the second half and almost scored after good work from McDermott and Odelusi. Then, just as it looked like the score line would remain level, Barking & Dagenham were awarded a free kick on the edge of the Waltham Forest area. Up stepped Monk to fire the ball into the bottom right corner, giving the Waltham Forest keeper no chance. It was the District captain's first goal and was enough to see his side into the play-off for the title.

Incisive

The final saw Barking & Dagenham square up to Newham, in a repeat of the opening game. Once again, the game started off at a frenetic pace and Newham took an early lead when an incisive passing move cut open the Barking & Dagenham defence to allow the striker time to fire past Malbon.

Barking & Dagenham almost restored parity immediately but Boyce was superbly denied by the feet of the keeper.

The District side continued to dictate the game from thereon in and were again denied by a lucky save from the Newham keeper. However, their hopes of victory were dealt a cruel blow as Phillips headed into his own net after seemingly being pushed by a Newham player just as he was about to make contact with the ball.

Pumped Up

Barking & Dagenham came out for the second half pumped up and Newham had to resort to a number of late tackles to try and stop a wave of rampant attacks.

They halved the deficit when Luke Gelston smashed the ball in, after the Monteagle man stormed into the Newham box. His initial shot struck the upright but he hit the rebound in despite the best efforts of the Newham keeper.

It was all one-way traffic now and Boyce almost equalised as his powerful header just flew the wrong side of the post. Okoh and Odelusi were both denied by some lucky defending and both Tuner and Monk went close when well struck shots narrowly failed to hit the target.

With time running out, Newham produced a sucker punch, hitting on the break to score against the run of play. The goal was harsh on Barking & Dagenham but was enough to see Newham go on to represent Essex in the South East finals in the new year.

For Barking and Dagenham, attention now turns to their 1st ever game in the Gills Shield, when West Kent are the visitors next Saturday.

Team: Malbon, Monk, Turner, Phillips, Boyce, Gelston, Okoh, Odelusi, McDermott.

 

 

 

 

Stunning Free Kick