Islington Invitational Tournament 2011

BARKING & DAGENHAM'S GIRLS’ District side extended their unbeaten run to twenty-seven games in their first matches of the new season, sharing first place in the Islington Invitational Cup.

First up were Lewisham. It took less than two minutes to demonstrate Barking & Dagenham’s potential as a Daisy McClenaghan throw-in wasn’t cleared by the opposition. Olivia Smith was the quickest to react, slamming in the loose ball from inside the penalty area to establish an early lead.

One became two shortly after when Elizabeth Wicks crossed from the left for William Bellamy’s Connie Waring to convert.

              Beau Parker had an opportunity to extend the lead, firing wide from a goalkeeper error and when skipper Kaydee King’s shot was also fumbled, Smith blasted against the bar.

Goal Threat

The third goal came though on the stroke of full time when defender King’s low drive from twenty yards found its way through the crowd to underline Barking & Dagenham’s all round goal threat.

The district team then when one better, racking up four without reply against Sutton B. Waring’s solo effort set things up and running inside a minute before a well-worked passing move involving King, Waring and Sydney Fairs resulted in Parker tapping in for her first goal of the tournament.

With just five minutes on the clock, King fired in her second of the day, this time striking the ball crisply from even further out, and with even more ferocity to rapturous applause from the gathering crowd.

Smith and Fairs had good chances to add to the tally but it was Waring who wrapped things up, seizing upon a misplaced goal-kick to poke the ball through the keeper’s legs.

Ruthless

Qualification for the semi-final was now secure but Barking & Dagenham remained ruthless throughout, with the lust for goals pulsing through their play. Shot after shot rained down on the Islington goal during the final group match but complacent finishing meant that the hosts made it to half-time only 1-0 down. Fourteen attempts on goal were registered inside a seven-minute spell but only Parker’s controlled volley, from Smith’s marauding run and cross, found its way past the resilient home keeper.

On the stroke of half-time though, Barking & Dagenham doubled their advantage. Again Smith got to the by-line, this time centring for unmarked winger Daisy Theobald to pounce at the back post.

After the restart, the one-way traffic continued. Waring nabbed her fourth of the day, in almost identical fashion to her previous strike, except this time the ball flew in like an arrow, leaving the keeper with no chance.

Parker made it 4-0 inside a minute, with Smith grabbing another with a solo run straight from the kickoff.

Three wins, twelve goals and none conceded meant that Barking & Dagenham topped their group by some distance and set up a semi-final showdown with Camden.

The district team made hard work of things during the early stages, with several half chances not taken due to heavy touches or inaccurate final passes. And when Waring hit the bar following Parker’s run and cross, Barking & Dagenham began to wonder if they had used up all their luck.

                             Cavalry Charge

However, fortune played little part in captain King’s response, leading her side on a breath-taking cavalry charge and assisting in three goals inside five minutes to secure the win.

First of all, her dangerous cross was deflected in by poacher Waring before a long range effort was blocked on the line with the keeper beaten.

Shortly after, Fairs converted another King centre with a first time shot to make it two before a superb move that summed up the simplicity and skill of much of Barking & Dagenham’s play.

King’s goal-kick was dropping harmlessly into midfield until it was taken down from the sky with a single, deft touch from Waring that laid the ball expertly into the path of Smith’s bursting run. The pass took out all of the Camden defence in one stroke and the midfield player’s box-to-box running earned her a third goal of the afternoon.

Barking & Dagenham then found themselves up against an experienced Sutton A side in the final, who had performed well in nine games prior to the tournament, including an impressive display against Fulham F.C. Centre of Excellence.

                                      No Fear

However, the improved standard of opposition held no fear for newly formed Barking & Dagenham in a game of fewer chances but just as much endeavour.

Smith, Parker and Waring all went close as the midfield battle became crucial. The outlet of Theobald on the left hand side, in combination with King, allowed Barking & Dagenham to enjoy the lion’s share of territorial advantage although shot-stopper Megan Tucker was called into significant action for the first time on a rare Sutton counter-attack.

Full time passed without a goal being registered, and extra time was about to expire too, when one last huzzah down the right flank saw Smith and Waring create an opening for a cross to flash across the Sutton goal. Parker valiantly sprung in front of her marker to gain contact with an outstretched boot, resulting in the ball cannoning agonisingly back off the upright.

It would’ve been just reward for Barking & Dagenham’s determination and pressure however they had to be content with a share of the spoils, lifting the trophy jointly at the end of a tiring but entertaining day.

Barking & Dagenham: Tucker, McClenaghan, King, Faires, Wicks, Theobald, Smith, Waring, Parker.