25/10/08 - Friendly

Barking & Dagenham 1 (Boyce)

Gravesham 6

BARKING & DAGENHAM PRIMARY Schools’ unbeaten start to the season was ended on Saturday after a lacklustre performance at home to Gravesham. The Kent side dominated throughout to run out comfortable winners.

Before kick-off, Barking & Dagenham were looking to build on last week’s impressive victory but never got out of first gear. Gravesham came out a yard quicker and showed more desire to win the ball, something which they continued to do throughout the first half.

Hesitant

Some hesitant defending almost saw Gravesham take the lead after a minute but the visiting striker blazed over when well placed.

It didn’t take long for them to break the deadlock however as the same player was given time and space to slot home after a hopeful ball forward evaded the Barking & Dagenham defence.

Gravesham almost doubled their lead straight from the kick off as the home side struggled to come to terms with the passing and movement of the team from across the river.

Eventually Barking & Dagenham showed glimpses of the impressive football that they have been playing and this saw them get back on level terms. Jonatas Centeno and Luke Gelston combined with Daniel Boyce and Centeno’s deft chip into the box saw a brave header from Boyce which flew over the Gravesham keeper for the Hunters Hall hitman’s third goal of the season.

Quick Goals

Gravesham's response was to fight fire with fire, scoring three quick goals to shock the home side.

All were preventable and came as a result of poor concentration fom the hosts, who should have been looking to carry forward the momentum from Boyce's goal.

Instead, they capitulated, allowing unmarked and unchallenged oppoisition players time and space to carve them apart at will.

With a half-time flea in their ear, Barking & Dagenham came out and showed more fight after the interval and tried to force their way back into the game. Louis Phillips plugged away in the middle of the park and Brendan Ocran was started to influence the play out wide.

Gravesham were happy to sit back though and soak up the home side’s pressure, knowing that they could exploit the space on the break.

Break

The fear that Gravesham would hurt the home side on the break was soon realised as a searching ball over the top of the Barking & Dagenham back four wasn’t dealt with the visitors took full advantage to roll home number five.

Barking & Dagenham, to their credit, continued to press forward and a neat passing movement between Gelston, Phillips and Boyce fashioned a chance for Frankie Tilley but the striker failed to hit the target.

Fittingly, the last action of the game was when Gravesham added a sixth goal. The visiting midfielder surged through a shell shocked defence to cross the ball where the Gravesham striker had time to pick his spot and put the seal on a crushing win for the Kent side.

A two week break follows for Barking & Dagenham before they are back in action against old foes Thurrock in the Essex League. A vastly improved performance will be required.

Team: Gray (Gascoigne); Malbon, Rose (Henry Green); Phillips, Boyce, Tilley (Hunters Hall); Monk (Thames View); Gelston (Monteagle); Centeno (William Bellamy); Okoh (St Joseph’s Dag); Odelusi (William Ford); Ocran (St. Vincent’s); Durban (Godwin); Turner (Ripple); McDermott. Franklin (Beam)