15/11/08 - Essex SFA Finch League
Barking & Dagenham 5 (Boyce 2, Okoh 2, Odelusi)
Thurrock 3
schools produced a thrilling second half comeback to defeat old foes, Thurrock on Saturday. An impress display of finishing maintains their 100% start to the Essex league. Thurrock arrived in a good vein of form and eager to regain their title but found Barking & Dagenham too hot to handle.
Equal
The opening exchanges were equal with neither side really getting hold of the ball. Both sides were strong in the tackle and the game started at a great pace.
Thurrock fashioned the first chance of the game but the alert Alfie Malbon was quick off his line to snuff out any danger. With Siju Odelusi and Brendan Ocran finding joy out wide, Barking & Dagenham looked to get behind the Thurrock back line but ultimately failed to threaten the visitors' goal.
After eight minutes, Thurrock took the lead with their first meaningful attack on the home goal. The powerful Larne Lewis surged pass the Barking & Dagenham back four and his clever centre found Drew Klessa-Smith, who had time and space to settle himself before coolly slotting home.
Swift
The goal seemed to shock the home side into action and their response was immediate. Louis Phillips showed dogged determination in the centre of the park and he linked up with Daniel Boyce to set Odelusi free. The pacy winger skipped past his marker and swung over a dangerous cross. The centre was met by Boyce and, even though his initial shot was blocked, the hitman spun sharply to smash home the equaliser.
Moments later, Odelusi was released after more good work by Boyce and Jonatas Centeno and his cross was superbly met on the volley by Boyce. However Scott Gunner, in the Thurrock goal, produced an outstanding save to keep the score-line level.
With numerous off sides and fouls breaking up the game, neither side were able to get going. However, just before half time, Thurrock regained the lead with a hint of good fortune. They worked the ball wide and, when the ball was put into the box, it somehow bounced out of keeper Malbon's hands and the prolific George Boffa made no mistake from six yards out.
The goal was some what against the run of play but Barking & Dagenham ended the half on the ascendancy.
Impressive
The second half started with the home side on the front foot and Thurrock seemed happy to soak up the pressure. Luke Gelston was providing bite in midfield and when Thurrock did manage to get the ball forward they found the impressive pairing of Reno Turner and Alec Monk in great form.
Thurrock gradually began to come into the game more and Conor Gray in the Barking and Dagenham goal needed to be alert on two occasions as the visitors started to threaten.
Thurrock increased their lead when Boffa finished off a neat passing move. Lewis and Sonny Shilling combined well and the Thurrock skipper released Boffa who gave Gray no chance.
Pace
Any thoughts that the goal would finish off the game were soon dispelled as Barking & Dagenham quickly halved the deficit. Monk's ball over the Thurrock back four saw Ernest Okoh set free and the fleet-footed striker showed tremendous pace to bear down on the Thurrock goal and fire home in the bottom corner.
Parity was restored as Okoh scored his second, a near carbon copy of his first. This time Gray saved bravely at the feet of Mason Iley and his huge kick was flicked on, Okoh left the Thurrock defenders for dead and finished with aplomb.
Barking & Dagenham's tails were now up and there was only going to be one winner.
Another impressive finish saw the home side take the lead for the first time. Turner and Monk exchanged passes and found Boyce, who split the Thurrock defence with an exquisite through-ball. Odelusi ran on to the pass, knocking the ball in to the area before hammering it into the net, giving Gunner no chance and send the home support into raptures.
Pressure
With time running out, Thurrock started to push players forward and Barking & Dagenham had to weather a period of pressure as the away side tried to rescue something from a game they had looked like winning. Gray in the home goal produced an important save and both Monk and Turner made vital blocks. However, with the clock ticking down Barking & Dagenham made sure of the points with a strike of brilliance.
Brilliance
Turner took a quick free kick and with the ball bouncing Boyce, with his whole body suspended in the air, hit the ball on the volley with his left foot and the ball rocketed home from all of thirty yards. It was an outstanding goal and put the seal on an impressive fight back and made sure Barking & Dagenham continue to be early pace setters in the Essex League.
Next week, Harlow and West Essex are the visitors to May and Bakers for a 1st round Crisp Shield tie.
