28/2/09 - Essex SFA Finch League
Harlow and West Essex 2
Barking and Dagenham 1 (Okoh)
BARKING & DAGENHAM PRIMARY schools finished off their Essex League campaign with a disappointing defeat on Saturday.
Knowing a win was vital for both sides, the opening stages of the game were scrappy, with neither side managing to get into their stride. Harlow almost opened the scoring after twenty five seconds but Conor Gray in the Dagenham goal did well to cut out a dangerous cross.
Barking & Dagenham were looking to use the width on a wide pitch and Jack McDermott was a constant threat out on the left.
End to End
With both sides guilty of giving the ball away, the game was end to end without much goal action. However, Barking & Dagenham almost opened the scoring first. Jonatas Centeno released Ernest Okoh and, after leaving the Harlow defenders in his wake, his finish struck the bottom of the post with the keeper well beaten.
Unlucky
Barking & Dagenham then enjoyed a period of pressure in the Harlow area and a number of corners caused some panic in the area without creating any real chances.
Alec Monk was unlucky with a well struck shot, which was blocked, and the Harlow keeper just managed to hold a Reno Turner effort.
With Centeno looking to spread the ball in the middle of the park, and both Luke Gelston and Louis Phillips at their terrier like best, it was Barking & Dagenham on the front foot.
Daniel Boyce then produced a great cross after making space for himself but it just evaded the onrushing Okoh. Siju Odelusi then left his marker for dead with his blistering pace but his centre was cleared. The half drew to a close with Barking & Dagenham looking the more likely to score.
Bright Start
Harlow started the second half well and almost took the lead after a flowing move but Barking & Dagenham keeper Gray saved well with his feet, when it looked like the Harlow striker was about to score. Barking & Dagenham found themselves back in the game, with full backs Samuel Franklin and Ross Durban providing support high up the pitch.
Okoh was causing problems with his pace and Barking & Dagenham should have taken the lead after a powerful run. Okoh's cross was laid into the path of McDermott but the Beam man shot over the bar.
Costly
Moments later, Harlow made Barking & Dagenham pay for the miss. A long, searching ball released the Harlow winger and when his cross was only half cleared, the Harlow striker gave Gray no chance with a crisp finish. Harlow nearly added a second straight away but Gray rushed from his goal to deny the striker.
Barking & Dagenham continued to press forward and Brendan Ocran should have leveled after a superb run. Ernestas Allionis put the ball into his path and Ocran rode three tackles but somehow managed to fire the ball over when it looked easier to score.
Harlow immediately broke down the other end and doubled their lead. Barking & Dagenham lost the ball out on the left and then failed to clear a cross and the Harlow midfielder superbly curled the ball into the top corner.
Consolation
With the game lost, Barking & Dagenham threw bodies forward and, with the clock almost up, they grabbed a consolation goal. A corner bounced around in the Harlow area and Okoh was first to react to put the ball in for his tenth goal of the season. But with the whistle going straight after the restart, it was no more then a consolation.
With this defeat, Barking & Dagenham will struggle to hold on to second place in the league and attention now turns to next week's Crisp Shield quarter-final against Croydon.
