Lester Finch Trophy - 28/03/09
Barking & Dagenham 5 (Allionis, Monk, Odelusi, Okoh, Boyce)
Islington 1
BARKING & DAGENHAM ENDED their Lester Finch Trophy campaign with another comfortable win, this time against Islington, making it three victories in a row.
The game started at a frantic pace and it was Islington who had the first chances. The Islington striker broke free but Ross Durban was alert to the danger and stopped him with a well timed tackle.
Samuel Franklin then had to be at his best, as the pace of the Islington strike force saw them get in behind the home side's defence.
Bullet
Barking & Dagenham slowly settled into their stride and Frankie Tilley went close with a bullet header after Billy Rose whipped in a dangerous cross.
With the midfield pairing of Jonatas Centeno and Jack McDermott battling away, it was the home side that looked the more likely to score.
They didn't have to wait long as Durban found Daniel Boyce with a pin point pass. The striker showed a deft touch to bring the ball down, before volleying it past the Islington keeper.
The goal saw Barking & Dagenham relaxe and start to produce some outstanding football. With Tilley working hard up front, giving the defenders no time on the ball, and Ernestas Allionis and Rose finding space out wide, Barking & Dagenham began to boss proceedings.
A goal mouth scrambled ensued after a wicked corner from Reno Turner but some desperate defending denied Allionis and Boyce.
Quick Thinking
On the one occasion Islington did manage to break forward, they were denied by the quick thinking of Alfie Malbon in the home goal. He quickly came off his line to push the striker wide and then produced a smart save to keep his side in front.
The second half started catastrophically for the home side, as after just 12 seconds, Islington were level. A hopeful punt forward from the kick off wasn't dealt with and the striker raced clear of the defence to slot home and give his side an undeserved equaliser.
The goal stunned Barking & Dagenham and it wasn't long before they were back in front. Luke Gelston and Louis Phillips combined down the right and Gelston's inviting cross was superbly controlled at the back post by Allionis. The Marsh Green man then produced a sublime finish to lift the ball over the keeper to put his side back in the lead, with what was his second goal of the season.
Killer
The home side continued to push forward looking for a killer third and it duly arrived. Ernest Okoh went past his marker and his goal bound effort was handled by an Islington defender, giving referee Duggins no choice but to point to the spot. Up stepped skipper Monk and he made no mistake with a well struck kick.
Islington looked a beaten team and Barking & Dagenham continued to play some neat football. Siju Odelusi went close with a smart shot from the edge of the box and Gelston was unlucky when his shot was blocked,when it looked destined for the back of the net.
Phillips and Turner went closer still with efforts from distance, the Islington keeper doing well to push both past the post.
However, the home side soon extended their lead courtesy of Okoh. Islington only half cleared their lines and Okoh was on hand to fire in his twelfth of the campaign.
With time running out, Connor Gray, a virtual bystander in the Barking & Dagenham goal, dived bravely at the feet of the Islington striker. It was a fantastic save but Gray had to come off with a blow to his knee.
Sweetly Struck
The home side had the last word with a fifth of the afternoon, Odelusi pouncing on a loose ball on the edge of the area and giving the Islington keeper no chance with a sweetly struck shot.
The goal meant the score line reflected the dominance of the home side, who are producing their best football of the season.
Next up for the District side is the week long English Schools' Festival of Football in Jersey. The team fly out on Saturday to compete against District sides from across the country.
