Barking & Dagenham Trophy 2010
Valence 0
Five Elms 4 (Namuntandam Olukolu, King, Harris)
AFTER SWEEPING PAST Richard Alibon, Parsloes, St Peter’s and Becontree in the earlier rounds, Five Elms added Valence to their list of scalps in the final of the inaugural Barking & Dagenham Trophy. Goals from Neville Namutenda, Joshua Olukolu, Jeffrey King and Brandon Harris secured the silverware for the Wood Lane side who thoroughly deserved their victory, displaying a ferocious appetite for goal throughout their campaign.
Looking dangerous from the outset, Five Elms created their opening chance straight from the kick-off - Namutenda and Olukolu playing a brace of intricate one-twos before the former’s side-foot shot drifted wide.
Shortly after Josh Osude’s fourth minute strike was chalked off for an offside infringement, the eventual champions took the lead. A long ball down the middle wasn’t properly dealt with and the athletic Namutenda seized upon the chance, curling a well placed shot past stranded Bradley Scammel in the Valence goal.
In response, Valence’s midfield prodded and probed, with Jack Saunders’ passing game looking the most likely foundation for any response. However, in Ryan Mugera and Billy Wilson, Five Elms have a centre back pairing capable of repelling the very best of forward lines and both players were superb throughout. Tackle after tackle, through ball after through ball was dealt with, restricting their opponents to a series of promising engagements that never really threatened the goal.
The rest of the first half was notable mainly for the terrific personal battle played out between Namutenda and Valence’s Zainab Bashua. On several occasions, the Five Elms attack was thwarted by the lion-hearted defender’s anticipation and timing when they seemed certain to score. And in the fifteenth minute, when Bashua’s inch-perfect last ditch tackle led to the ball rolling to an unmarked Osude, the upright intervened on her behalf, deflecting his pressurised shot just wide of the goal.
Osude was again denied on the stroke of half time, this time by Scammel’s point-blank range save, a feat the Valence glove-man repeated straight after the restart, this time denying Tyler Cockburn with equally good positioning.
But with Namutenda, Olukolu and Cockburn all going close in the early stages of the half, Five Elms looked to stamp their authority on the score-line and take the game out of their opponent’s reach.
First, Olukolu finished off from the outstanding Mugera’s well directed clearance, then King popped up to ensure that the outcome of the final wasn’t in doubt.
Valence continued to press, but aside from Saunders’ dangerous corners, they couldn’t find a way through a defence that was brimming with self belief and well organised by Mugera and Wilson.
And when with seconds to go, Harris added his side’s fourth, it was just reward for a display of power and pace that led to Five Elms being crowned as worthy winners.
Five Elms' Scorers and Skipper
