Islington Tournament - 16/2/10
BARKING & DAGENHAM GIRLS' District side extended their unbeaten run to thirteen games in their first matches of the new season, narrowly missing out on first place in the Islington Invitational Cup.
The new-look side were given the ideal fillip after just two minutes of their opening game against Islington. Tenacious Olivia Smith slipped in Klesha Darroux, who sprinted down the left flank before centring to Briony Hagger to tap in from close range.
Four minutes later, Hagger returned the favour, chasing down a lost cause to win back possession before Darroux burst through for her first of the afternoon, becoming the District’s all-time leading scorer in the process.
Smith could have made it three shortly after when she volleyed over from Hagger’s quick throw-in. But it was Tayla Jackson who eventual capped off the win, finishing neatly from fifteen yards.
Disappointing
After such a good start, a disappointing draw against Sutton Blues followed. Hagger went close twice and Jackson saw her goal-bound shot saved as, despite dominating, Barking & Dagenham were unable to capitalise on their possession.
Sutton Whites were a different story, as the girls chalked up their second win of the day. Smith intercepted a loose goal-kick early, knocking the ball forward to Hagger. She then picked out Jackson, who beat her marker before rifling into the bottom corner for 1-0.
The lead was doubled before half-time when skipper Kaydee King’s cross-field pass was collected by Jackson. Running intelligently behind the Sutton rearguard, Smith received an immaculate through-ball then centred for Darroux to complete the move win a fine finish.
Further chances came and went as Hagger, Jackson, Darroux and Smith all went close, in the best performance of the morning.
All that meant that a solid win over Camden would land the title. And Barking & Dagenham looked on course when Jackson’s persistence brought panic to Camden’s under-pressure defence, allowing Darroux to benefit. The St Vincent’s hit-girl burst past a series of challenges before burying the ball in the net to give her side the lead.
Equaliser
A rare Camden attack brought a second half equaliser when Barking & Dagenham, in their fourth game in succession, finally lost concentration: the defence standing off their players for too long, allowing them time to force past keeper Amber Young.
From then on it was one-way traffic as Barking & Dagenham threw bodies forward for the win. Several opportunities went begging in the final moments but, try as they might, the elusive goal just wouldn’t come.
That meant a valiant runners-up spot for Barking & Dagenham, behind Saturday’s opponents Sutton Blues, in a highly promising first run out for the team.
