7/3/09 - London SFA Crisp Shield
Barking & Dagenham 4 (Ocran, Okoh, Phillips, Boyce)
Croydon 2 - a.e.t.
BARKING & DAGENHAM PRIMARY Schools' produced an outstanding display to secure a Crisp Shield semi-final place on Saturday at May & Bakers. Despite falling behind, and then being pegged back with the last kick of normal time, the side played their best football of the season, fully deserving their victory.
Favourites
Croydon arrived as clear favourites and were quickly into their stride. With the pacy Reyon Dillon and Joey Korash up front, they tried to exploit the space behind the Barking & Dagenham defence. Alfie Malbon had to be quick off his line on three occasions to snuff out the threat. With Croydon's powerful midfield pairing dominating the centre of the park, it was the visitors who bossed the opening stages.
Superb
However, the home side began to get a grip of the game, with Luke Gelston and Jonatas Centeno battling away in midfield. The back four, lead superbly by Alec Monk and Reno Turner, were dealing with the threat posed when Croydon broke forward. Full backs, Louis Phillips and Samuel Franklin were also excellent and it was Barking & Dagenham that looked the more likely to score first.
The first chance came after Croydon failed to deal with a searching Turner ball. The ball was quickly seized upon by Ernest Okoh but his snap shot was well held by the Jake O' Brien in the Croydon goal.
Okoh then created a similar chance for strike partner Daniel Boyce but his turn and shot was blocked.
Dangerous
Croydon still looked dangerous on the break but it was the home side who were applying all the pressing and Siju Odelusi almost broke the deadlock but his cross-cum-shot was just too high. Croydon then created an opening for themselves, breaking out from defence but captain Monk was alert to the danger.
The half ended with another chance for Barking & Dagenham. Another high ball into the Croydon area found its way to Brendan Ocran but his crisp effort was palmed away to safety by O' Brien.
Pressure
The introduction of late arrival, Ollie Bennett lifted Croydon and they began the second half on the front foot. Bennett was causing problems with his intelligent running and Franklin had to be alert to deny Malakai Sandford from opening the scoring.
A series of corners then caused more problems for the home side as Croydon sensed the game was theirs for the taking. The pressure finally paid off when a corner was only half cleared to Bennett, who showed quick feet to cut inside Phillips as his lofted effort sailed in to the net to give Croydon the lead.
Golden Chance
They almost doubled their advantage moments later but Monk just got to Bennett before he could get his shot away.
Barking & Dagenham knew they had to get back into the game quickly and they regained the initiative with some great football. Odelusi created a chance for Okoh, but the District's leading scorer failed to hit the target.
Jack McDermott then tested O' Brien in the Croydon goal, but the stopper was equal to the effort. With Gelston and Phillips driving the team on from the middle of the park, it seemed only a matter of time before the equaliser came.
It should have arrived when Okoh spun past his marker, skipped past two challenges and into the area but his shot just flew over the bar.
Deserved Equaliser
Any thoughts, however, that Barking & Dagenham would regret that miss were quickly put to rest as the home side got back on level terms. When Boyce received the ball with his back to goal, there seemed to be no danger but the Hunters Hall striker superbly played the ball into the path of Okoh. He was denied by a superb Jed Botham tackle but when the ball broke,Ocran made no mistake from twelve yards.
It was no more then Barking & Dagenham deserved and they now had their tails up. Odelusi created another chance after skipping past his maker but his cross was fired wide of the target by the onrushing Phillips.
Quick Thinking
Croydon were on the ropes and two pieces of quick thinking gave Barking & Dagenham the lead.
Odelusi's quick throw found Boyce, who flicked the ball across the goal and there was Okoh to fire home his twelfth goal of the season.
Croydon looked shell shocked at the turnaround and Barking & Dagenham continued to press for a killer third goal.
It didn't arrive though and, with just seconds on the clock, Croydon leveled things up. A free-kick from their own half found Bennett, who looked yards offside but he ignored the calls to delightfully chip the ball over Connor Gray and send the game into extra time.
Fighting
Despite the cruel end to the game, Barking & Dagenham came out fighting in the first period of extra time. They looked hungrier in the tackle and refused to give up any cause - chasing everything down and not letting Croydon settle on the ball.
It was no surprise when they retook the lead. Odelusi and Ocran linked up well to lay the ball into the path of Phillips who struck the ball sweetly with his right foot, the ball flying past O'Brien and sent the home crowd wild.
Croydon had to throw bodies forward and had a chance near the end of the first period but Gray showed good hands to deal with the effort.
Tense
The second period was tense, with Croydon pouring forward to try and rescue the game and Barking & Dagenham trying to hold on to their lead.
Despite all the Croydon pressure, the back four remained solid and it was Barking & Dagenham who grabbed the next goal. Phillips surged towards the Croydon goal and when his fiercely struck shot was only parried by O' Brien, Boyce was on hand to bravely head home his eleventh goal of the campaign.
The goal put the seal on a marvelous all round team performance and perhaps a fairer reflection of the game. It was Croydon's first defeat of the season and one that keeps alive the chance of some silverware for the District side this season.
Barking & Dagenham will now need to wait to see their semi- final opponents as Newham have to play Waltham Forest, with the winners facing Bexley for that semi final place.
