11/10/08 - Essex SFA Finch League
Barking & Dagenham 4 (Ocran, Phillips, Centeno, Okoh)
Waltham Forest 1
BARKING & DAGENHAM SCHOOLS’ opened their Essex League campaign with a comprehensive win against Waltham Forest on Saturday. Coming from behind, an impressive all round team performance secured the three points.
The game started at a good pace, with both sides eager to pass the ball around. The home side looked the sharper in the early exchanges but found themselves a goal down after two minutes. A Waltham Forest corner travelled across goal and the visiting striker had time to settle himself and fire into the roof of the net.
Menace
The goal shocked Barking & Dagenham but it didn’t take long for them to get back on level terms. Jonatus Centeno, who was a menace all game down the right, showed quick feet to skip past the Waltham Forest full back and his wicked cross found the onrushing Brendan Ocran, who made no mistake from twelve yards.
Moments later, Barking & Dagenham surged forward again through Reno Turner and his delicate chip found Louis Phillips, who eased the ball over the Waltham Forest keeper, to give the District team a thoroughly deserved lead.
Barking & Dagenham sensed the game was there for the taking with both Ocran and Centeno regularly going past their markers, and Luke Gelston and Jack McDermott dominating the centre of the park.
The third goal soon arrived with another flowing move. This time Gelston combined well with Daniel Boyce and his clever reverse pass found Centeno in space, who coolly slotted the ball home. The quality of the football was a joy to watch.
However, Waltham Forest refused to give up and almost got themselves back into the game. They advanced quickly when a home attack broke down and the visitors worked the ball to allow their pacy striker through on goal. But Alfie Malbon produced a stunning save to tip the ball around the post and preserve the two goal cushion.
Barking & Dagenham were soon back on the attack and Boyce nearly added to the lead, but his well struck volley was cleared off the line by some desperate defending.
Superb
Waltham Forest came out for the second half fired up, knowing they had to get back into the game quickly. The visitors had lots of possession but with the formidable partnership of Turner and captain Alec Monk at the heart of the home defence, and Ross Durban superb at left back, they failed to trouble their opponents' goal.
Barking and Dagenham still looked dangerous on the break. Ernest Okoh could have scored a 4th for the home side, after some good work by Samuel Franklin, but the St Vincent’s man just slid his shot the wrong side of the post.
Conor Grey then produced an outstanding save to keep the two-goal lead intact.
Shortly after though, the pressure was back on the Waltham Forest goal though and some more impressive work from Boyce saw Franklin just fire over the bar. Turner then produced a barnstorming run to release Boyce, whose first time cross just evaded Siju Odelusi at the back post. Ernestas Allionis was then unlucky not to score but the Waltham Forest keeper did well to palm his first time shot away.
With time running out, and the points in the bag, Barking & Dagenham turned on the style and they looked capable of opening up the Waltham Forest defence at will.
Unstoppable
The icing was soon on the cake with a splendid fourth goal - and what a goal it was! Conor Gray’s huge kick was well controlled by Ocran and he surged into the Waltham Forest half. He then laid the ball off to Okoh who let the ball come across his body before unleashing an unstoppable shot into the top corner of the goal. It was a brilliant finish to a complete team performance: one that will put down an early marker in the Essex League.
Next week, Tower Hamlets are the visitors for an inter-district friendly and Barking & Dagenham will be keen to build on this impressive all round display.
Team: Grey, Malbon, Turner, Gelston, Phillips, Boyce, Monk (Capt), Franklin, Ocran, Allionis, McDermott, Durban, Centeno, Okoh, Odelusi
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