| Below are a round up of our pre-season friendly matches |
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Harold Wood Athletic 1 (1) Barking 1 (1)
Saturday July 30th
Venue - Harold Wood Park |
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Barking completed their pre-season friendly programme with a hard fought draw at Harold Wood Park. This was a hard fought game played in brilliant sunshine, but despite the heat both sides played it like a cup tie and a draw was a fair result.
Prior to the "main event" the club's reserve sides met and it was Harold Wood who triumphed 1-0.
Mark Richardson continued between the sticks and produced a confident and assured display - however, he had no chance with the penalty that made it 1-0 to Harold Wood which was given following a George Tubey foul. Undeterred Barking continued to play their football and on 33 Ben JONES equalised with a superb close range finish.
The second half ebbed to and fro with Jones having the best efforts for the visitors and former blue Des Gallen going close for Harold Wood with a looping shot that just cleared the bar.
Now all eyes are on our first league fixture which is next Saturday when we entertain league runners up Stansted.
Starting XI: Mark Richardson, George Tubey, Dan Mackin, Craig Greenwood, Sam Dennis, Scott Walsh, Fabio Jesus, Greg Tiffin, Chas Liddiard, Jonathan Mogege, Ben Jones
Subs (all used second half): Lewis Payne, Bobby Port, Danny Rafis, Connor Halsey, Kevin Neville
Report by Terry Gilbert |
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Barking 1 (1) Romford 1 (1)
Tuesday July 26th
Venue - Mayesbrook Park |
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BLUES EARN SECOND DRAW AGAINST RYMAN LEAGUE OPPOSITION
The Memorial Trophy, as its name indicates, is played in memory of our former chairman Peter Webster who died at a tragically young age. Previous winners include Dagenham & Redbridge and Redbridge. We are the holders, having beaten Thurrock 3-1 last season, and as there was no winner in this match the trophy is shared.
Our side included Lee Cornhill, formerly a Burnham Rambler , and reserves goalkeeper Mark Richardson, who had an excellent second half which included several good saves. We were very happy to welcome back our former captain and current Romford assistant manager Mark Lord, who was the most recent Barking captain to hold aloft a senior men's trophy won by us in competition (rather than invitation). This was the Essex Thameside Trophy of 1996/7.
We gained an early lead with a superb goal from the head of Sam DENNIS from an excellent Fabio Jesus corner. Soon afterwards Jesus sustained a head injury but bravely continued in a blood stained bandage. A fierce shot from outside our penalty area enabled Romford to equalize after 29 minutes.
The game proceeded in a lively fashion and Chas Liddiard twice went close to scoring ,being denied by a good save and then seeing another shot go the wrong side of the post by a narrow margin, following a good ball by Danny Rafis.
Unfortunately Chris Clark sustained a leg injury from a strong challenge at the end of the first half. Both sides threatened to score again after the interval, with Ben Jones and Jake King causing problems for the Romford defence. King was blatantly fouled in the Romford penalty area twice within two minutes but the referee said that he did not see the offences and would have penalised them had he done so.
Starting XI: Chris Clark, George Tubey, Connor Halsey, Sam Dennis, Dan Mackin, Fabio Jesus, Greg Tiffin, Scott Walsh, Jake King, Chas Liddiard, Danny Rafis
Subs (all used at Half Time): Mark Richardson, Lewis Payne, Craig Greenwood, Bobby Port, Jonathan Mogege, Lee Cornhill, Ben Jones
Report by Derek Pedder |
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Barking 2 (1) Brentwood Town 2 (2)
Saturday July 23rd Venue - Mayesbrook Park |
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BATTLING BLUES EARN DRAW AGAINST RYMAN LEAGUE BRENTWOOD
This was an excellent fight back by the Blues to earn a well-deserved draw after conceding two goals in the first ten minutes. We almost embarrassed our Ryman (Isthmian) League Division 1 North opponents when a shot in the final minute was only kept out by their crossbar.
Despite the changes by both sides at half time this was no pre-season stroll but a really competitive and entertaining game between two sides playing excellent football. Brentwood dominated the early stages and raced to a 2-0 lead but we settled down to play very attractive passing football and
defended well to prevent them increasing their lead. In the 15th minute a typically determined run by Chas Liddiard ended with a back heel to Fabio JESUS and then a fabulous well flighted shot beat former Blues custodian Andy Hall.
The deserved equalizer arrived after 61 minutes when superb work by Dan Mackin and Jon Mogege was superbly finished by Jake KING with a low shot. Sam Dennis went close with a header and a Danny Rafis header went over the bar. We continued to press with Jesus setting up King for a shot which was well saved and Connor Halsey apparently being fouled in the penalty area before Chris Clark made one of his superb saves. In the last minute another terrific Liddiard run prefaced a Jesus shot which beat the 'keeper but crashed against the crossbar.
Starting XI: Dan Fowler, George Tubey, Dan Mackin, Lewis Payne, Ben Turner, Scott Walsh, Fabio Jesus, Greg Tiffin, Chas Liddiard, Jonathan Mogege, Danny Rafis
Subs (all used at Half Time): Chris Clark, Connor Halsey, Craig Greenwood, Sam Dennis, Jake King, Ben O'Brien
Report by Derek Pedder
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Barking 0 (0) Redbridge 5 (1)
Tuesday July 19th
Venue - Mayesbrook Park |
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An evening to forget and a disastrous second half for Barking against a strong looking Redbridge side. A goal down at half time in an even first half, the Blues were shell-shocked by four second half goals. Barking should have been ahead on seven minutes when a great ball by Jon Mogege was latched onto by Chas Liddiard and his cross found the unmarked Frankie Williams who from close range could only hit the bar with the goal at his mercy. Shortly after Redbridge took the lead from a corner for the only strike of the first half.
The second half sprang to life on 56 minutes when Ben Turner knocked the ball away from a Redbridge forward and was harshly adjudged as making a back pass to Dan Fowler. The free kick was superbly curled home for 2-0. Two further goals including an own goal from the luckless Turner made the score look one sided and the final nail in the coffin was provided when a superb 35 yard strike made it 5-0 and a bad night at the office.
Starting XI: Chris Clark, Greg Tiffin, Sam Dennis, Connor Halsey, Ben Turner, Scott Walsh, Frankie Williams, Jake King, Chas Liddiard, Lewis Payne, Jonathan Mogege
Subs (all used at Half Time): Dan Fowler, George Tubey, Joe Turner, Dan Mackin, Abraham Adejokun, Craig Greenwood
Report by Terry Gilbert |
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