April 2006

The Under 18's won their second cup final of the season yesterday when the beat Leyton by a single goal to win the Magnus cup at Newmarket Town. The goal came in the second half from a Bradley Ross penalty, but Mark Parker followed up his fine performance for the first team on Saturday with a cup winning save on 83 minutes to deny the team from E10.

Congratulations and thanks to our reliable defender Ben Willis whose appearance against Ilford was his 200th in the Blue of Barking. Ben, who originally came to Mayesbrook Park in September 2000 under Craig Edwards, has scored fourteen goals. Ben has also made numerous appearances for Redbridge when they were previously known as Ford United. Ben is the second player to reach the 200 appearance milestone this season as John O'Sullivan did against Enfield Town last August.

Our congratulations and thanks to Warren Haughton and Jamie Murat who made their 50th appearances for us on Saturday, with Warren typically marking the occasion with a superb goal. Ben Willis is poised on 199 and will mark his 200th appearance if selected at Ilford tomorrow - Steve Blaney who is out injured at the moment is on 49.

The club are to appeal against the sending off of Anton Dwyer in a reserve fixture against Ilford on March 15th. This will mean that Anton will be available for our remaining fixtures.

On Wednesday the Under 18's continued their recent good run in the league by winning both games in a double header played on Wednesday afternoon with Ilford at Mayesbrook Park. The score in the first game was 3-0 with Karl Sanderson, Bradley Ross and Remi Nelson the scorers. The second game was won 2-0 with Bradley Ross and Danny Cook the scorers. The Under 18's are without a game this weekend following the cancellation of their Eastern Junior Alliance League cup final against Billericay Town. Their next game is the Magnus cup final on April 23rd when Leyton are their opponents at Newmarket Town FC kick off 2:30pm.

It has been necessary to amend the kick off of Friday's home game with Great Wakering Rovers it willl now kick off at 2pm.

There was good news for popular Barking coach Ashley Marsh this week when he went into hospital to have the bolt removed – no, not from his neck but from his leg. Ashley’s leg was broken at Sittingbourne last season by a deplorable challenge which sadly ended his playing career just short of 200 appearances for the Blues, plus many more for Ford United, Collier Row and others. The removal of the bolt happily signals his full recovery.

Wayne Vaughan and Steve Blaney are injured. In Wayne’s case it is subject to the decision of the referee whether to allow him to play with his plastered arm. Carl Bruce had to be substituted against Corby Town following a heavy tackle and the extent of the damage is not yet known.

Following Wednesday nights cup success the Under 18's returned to league action this morning beating Brentwood Town 4-0. For the second successive game Danny Cook hit a hat-trick with Remi Nelson the other scorer. Despite being two down at the interval Brentwood put up a spirited effort in the second half but Nelson made it 3-0 twenty minutes into the second half and Danny Cook completed his hat trick in the final minute. This coming Wednesday (April 12th the Under 18's face their counterparts from Ilford in a league double header at Mayesbrook Park kick off 4pm.

The Under 18's successful season continued last night when they won through to their third cup final by beating Great Wakering Rovers 4-1 in the semi final of the Eastern Junior Alliance League cup. A Danny Cook hat trick and a Darren Coleman strike were enough in the end. However, the young Blues were indebted to keeper Liam McVicker who kept them in the game with a string of fine saves prior to Cook's equaliser and go in all square at the interval. The Under 18's return to league action this Sunday when they visit their counterparts from Brentwood Town

Gary Waters completed his four game suspension with Saturday's 7-0 drubbing of Berkhamsted Town and will be available for Saturday's match with Corby. Wayne Vaughan, Steve Blaney and Jason Henry are still out injured. In Wayne’s case it is subject to the decision of the referee whether to allow him to play. It has been confirmed that both Warren Haughton and Troy Braham who were cautioned in our game at Wivenhoe and who both picked up their fifth yellow card of the season, will not be suspended for our important game at home to Corby Town on Saturday. This is due to their cautions being received after the cut off date for automatic suspension.

Our 7-0 victory at Berkhamsted was our highest competitive score for five years. We beat Mountnessing of the Essex Olympian League (an intermediate team) 8-0 in a friendly on July 26th 2004 but we have to go back to April 23rd 2001 for the last time we scored seven in a competitive match. The final score was Wokingham Town 2 Barking 7 scorers for the Blues that evening were Chris Rose with three Danny Clarke two, Mark Lord and a Paul Rogan penalty. The Berkhamsted result was the highest score so far in our two Southern League seasons.

Current Statistics :
Unbeaten for ten games

Lost just two of last 16
Five consecutive clean sheets
Not conceded a goal for 477 minutes and only one goal conceded in the calendar month of March which was in the away fixture at Sittingbourne.

Scored first in 15 of last 18 games, of which two were 0-0 draws, therefore our opponents scored first in only one of last seventeen and that was Chatham Town on February 18th.