Friendly - 20/2/10
Sutton 1
Barking & Dagenham 2 (Darroux 2)
THERE WAS LATE drama in Saturday's girls' District game as two late goals inside a minute rescued a win for Barking & Dagenham in a stunning second half fight-back. Klesah Darroux's fourth and fifth goals of the season cancelled out Sutton's early openers to scenes of jubilation and relief.
The first half was lacklustre throughout, with Barking & Dagenham’s passing game disrupted by the tacky surface. First touches went astray and players were quickly closed down, forcing mistakes all over the pitch.
And it was from one such error that possession was squandered on the edge of the Barking & Dagenham penalty area, allowing a half-chance for a snatch-shot that was duly taken to put Sutton ahead.
Controversial
The rest of the half ambled on, without Barking & Dagenham registering a shot on target, until Sutton were awarded a controversial penalty in the twenty-second minute. Keeper Amber Young was harshly adjudged to have impeded a home attacker when gathering a loose ball and the referee subsequently pointed to the spot. Young made amends however, sticking out a strong right hand to turn the penalty over the bar and keep the visitors within touching distance.
With half-time words ringing in their ears, Barking & Dagenham set about breaking down their opponents with renewed vigour. First, Olivia Smith won the ball in midfield before spreading play to Louise Dove. The winger’s centre then picked out Briony Hagger, whose well-struck shot was saved.
Two minutes later, the increasingly dangerous Dove embarked on a powerful solo run that saw her leave three defenders in her wake before her shot whistled into the side netting.
Dove’s influence continued as she again set up Hagger for another mid-range strike, and fired Kaydee King’s inswinging corner just wide.
But try as they might, shot after shot was blocked, charged down or wide of the goal, with Sutton determinedly hanging on to their lead.
Well-deserved
Then, with just five minutes remaining, debutante Sadie Fox chased down a lost cause inside the Sutton half. Panic ensued, gifting the ball to Dove, who switched play inside to King. Two touches later, Darroux was free in the penalty area to stab home a well-deserved equaliser.
That would have done for Barking & Dagenham, with a draw a welcome return for their second half performance. However, straight from the restart, they constructed the move of the match to go one better and claim victory.
Hollie Ross showed typical calm and poise to cut out a misplaced Sutton through-ball just inside her own half. With control, she forwarded the ball to Dove, whose sublime first touch with the outside of her right boot wrong footed her marker, with Dove spinning inside from the right flank into midfield. King then took over after receiving the pass, before switching play to Darroux on the left of the penalty area. Darroux’s first touch appeared to take her too far away from goal but, from an acute angle, she took the home keeper by surprise with an unstoppable blast into the roof of the net, to the obvious delight of the visiting support.
