Eastern Senior League South
Venue: Cricklefield
Attendance: 105
2019-20 Season – Match 33
Friday 1st November 2019 – 8.30pm KO
Barkingside: Sky Blue Shirts, Sky Blue Shorts, Sky Blue Socks
May & Baker: Red & Black Striped Shirts, Black Shorts, Black Socks
Bakers emerge with fine win at Cricklefield
Barkingside 0 – 4 May & Baker
Report & Photos by Scott W (Twitter: @ScottMHC14)
A rare Friday night match this season took me back to Cricklefield, where Barkingside faced May & Baker in the Eastern Senior League South. As it happened, there were quirks aplenty here. First, ‘Side were facing their Reserve team’s former co-bosses Jordan Harris & Alec Simm, who brought with them the bulk of their team there to M & B in the summer. Then there was the very unfortunate nature of the hefty delay to the match. I’ll say it for what is, the nearly non-existent pitch markings clearly irked the match officials & the assessor for some time and they only relented after home club officials Jimmy & Roger done some 11th hour-work to make the lines around one penalty box more visible, respect to them.
Anyway, at around 8.15pm the officials made their decision and the match got going just after 8.30pm. As for the teams themselves, ‘Side fielded Charlie Howson between the sticks, a back four of Frankie Sinclair, Ricardo Bailey, Shaq Foyewa and skipper Elliott Scott, with Joe Gent and Joe Oates leading the line. Jacob Dingli and Ali Rajim were among the options from their bench. Bakers had Frankie Worboyes in goal, skipper Kane Messenger in central midfield and a front three of Darren Seymour, Kai Warren and Carl Patten. A strong substitutes’ bench included Gabriel Odili, Ricky Teixiera and Daniel Barth.
The delayed start seemed to affect the hosts more in the early-going as they conceded with six minutes gone, as less-than-sharp defending handed the ball back to tricky forward Kai Warren inside the penalty area before burying low into the left-side corner past home ‘keeper Charlie Howson. Barkingside did edge forward on the counter five minutes later though forward Joe Gent’s cross was too deep and led to winger Ben Clarke’s drive being blocked. Right on the quarter-hour, M & B nearly added to their goal tally as a fierce drive by captain Kane Messenger forced Howson into action, the ‘keeper doing well to parry and gather in short order. As we entered the midway point of the half, Barkingside did retain the ball though their finishing was wayward, as first support forward Dan Jones blazed his strike well wide before moments later, a decent hit by central midfielder Sam Bashua cannoned back off the goal frame.
That glimmer of light for the hosts was snuffed out in a big way soon afterward as on 27 minutes, Bakers made it 2 – 0 as a well-directed cross by Warren into the six-yard area ended up going in as Howson dropped the ball in facing goalward. Bakers two minutes afer that then dispossessed their hosts in their half with midfielder Josh Lowbridge breaking clear before playing in the on-rushing Darren Seymour who blasted home with aplomb.
Steven La Sage’s side responded with another attack on the half-hour mark though as Gent first evaded the off-side trap, his cut-back from the right flank just missed the oncoming Bashua at the back stick from a few yards out. Bakers had more chances to round out the half as first, centre-back Jake Piper headed just over the woodwork from a neat free-kick, before Seymour lofted an effort over the target.
Half-Time: Barkingside 0 – 3 May & Baker
The first half certainly wasn’t devoid of action, though the restart was a little quieter. On the hour, after ghosting past his marker, Oates could only head wide before Jones had another drive on goal gathered by visiting stopper Frankie Warboyes. With 15 minutes to play, M & B forward Danny Gillham struck wide with only Howson to bypass. ‘Side did not look their most energetic though the pouring rain did make it tougher for them. With six minutes remaining, substitute Jacob Dingli sent a pass in for Clarke though Worboyes got in first. Bakers sealed a fine evening’s work with two minutes left as a thunderbolt from 20-plus yards out by replacement Ricky Teixiera sailed through the hands of Howson. Dingli almost pulled one back for the hosts on the stroke of full-time though Worboyes did well to save at his feet. With that, the referee blew up for time – at 10.20pm or so. One interesting evening’s football done.
Full-Time: Barkingside 0 – 4 May & Baker
In fairness, a strong performance by the visitors was more than enough to deserve the win, though their recent poor form may have added a few nerves in defence at times. In my view, forwards Kai Warren and Carl Patten stood out for Bakers tonight as they really gave the home backline something to think about, with midfielder Kane Messenger a driving force as well. For ‘Side, forwards Joe Oates and Joe Gent looked their most likely source of invention and goals though they will know they need to improve on this showing, despite the circumstances that preceded the match. On that note, you have to feel for the hosts who were let down in terms of pitch preparation.
Finally, thank you to Barkingside as ever for their hospitality. Good to see May & Baker in action as well for first time in a while. Best wishes to both clubs for the rest of this campaign.
Line-up’s
Barkingside | Manager: Steven Le Sage
1. Charlie Howson (GK), 18. Frankie Sinclair, 3. Ricardo Bailey (2. Jonathan Santos 46’), 4. Sam Bashua (12 Jonathan Ogunsanya 46’), 5 Shaq Foyewa, 6. Elliott Scott (Capt), 7. Archie Hammond, 8. Dan Jones, 9. Joe Gent (14. Jacob Dingli 83’), 10. Joe Oates, 11. Ben Clarke
Booked: Oates | Subs Not Used: Hayward, Rajim
May & Baker | Joint-Managers: Jordan Harris & Alec Simm
1. Frankie Worboyes (GK), 2. Cain Brougham, 3. Ryan Leavens, 4. Josh Perry, 5. Jake Piper, 6. Kane Messenger (Capt), 7. Darren Seymour, 8. Josh Lowbridge (17 Jamie Pooley 70’), 9. Carl Patten (Gabriel Odili 77’), 10. Danny Gillham, 11. Kai Warren (15 Ricky Teixiera 73’)
Goal-scorers: Kai Warren [6’], OG (Howson) [27’], Darren Seymour [29’], Ricky Teixiera [88’]
Booked: None | Subs Not Used: Khimji, Barth
Referee: Thomas Whay
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