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On a very sunny Essex Saturday afternoon Barking concluded season 2007-08 with a draw at Basildon in a game which they should really have had sewn up by half-time after coming back from a goal behind to equalise through Jimmy Noakes. There was also the unusual sight of twins on a football field, Carl Paul who asked Barnet for permission to play in this match, faced up to his twin brother Jerome. When kitted out in their football strips it is easy to tell the brothers apart, in “civvies” the task is much harder. Basildon for their part this term have suffered managerial upheaval and a regular rotation of playing staff, so much so that their player stats for this season cover two pages!! No doubt like ourselves they will look to put this season behind them and looking to next year for a better season. Manager Dave Ross experimented with a 3-5-2 formation, Paul linking up with Matt Toms and fellow returnee Daniel Scadden.
The game was barely six minutes old when the visitors received a nasty shock, a free kick awarded some distance from goal with only a one man wall, the amber’s Paul Talbot curled the ball towards goal. Keeper Butterfill misjudged its flight and it flew into the net to put us a goal down. Stung into action the visitors got themselves. Stung by this early setback the visitors immediately look to make amends but Matthews well struck free kick is headed just wide of the post by Matt Toms. The threatened equaliser arrived on 17 when another good delivery this time by Matthews is flicked on by Daniel Scadden to give Jimmy NOAKES and easy tap-in for one apiece. This was Jimmy’s eighth ESL goal of the season and ninth in total. Now on a roll the blue wave starts to surge forward, Abraham Adejokun delivers a good ball into the box which is collected by Victor Omobgehin whose low cross is back-heeled against Basildon keeper Anthony Hughes - the rebound is met by Duane Miller, but stretching his effort can only hit the bar not the net. After this Basildon created their best chances of the match: Mike Fentiman turns Omobeghin and forces Butterfill into a good save and shortly after a corner is deflected off Carl Paul and cleared by James Hughes perilously close to the line. Adejokun who had been one of the liveliest players in a blue shirt was forced off on 37 after taking a couple of heavy knock on his ankle, to be replaced by Dean Clark. The homesters continue to create the better openings and six minutes from the interval a corner deflects off Hughes (James) and a well placed Basildon player heads over the bar.
The second half was a much more low-key affair, but Barking did create and should of taken their chances that were created, Basildon apart from one clear opportunity and two saves from Butterfill they were kept at bay by our defensive unit. On 53 a Clark corner was met by the head of Scadden but like Toms in the first period he could not get his header on target. A good ball to Mathews, finds him in a good position and although his low shot is on target Hughes dives low to turn the ball behind. The home side’s only chance of note came on 62 when a long ball forward is latched onto by Grant Allen, but thankfully his shot was wide. With the minutes ticking away and a draw looking the likely outcome, five minutes from time a cross from Clark is met by the unmarked Noakes, but his header is unfortunately off target. With the end in sight a potential threat was averted down the Barking right as sub Craig Greenwood made a superb challenge and that basically was that.
So that was that and as we wave goodbye to 2007-08 recalling the words of a famous cartoon character “thats all folks!!” However, like 007 we will return in July with a series of pre-season friendly matches that are currently being arranged let’s hope there are better times ahead for the Blue shirted Men from Mayesbrook in the not too distant future.
Until we meet again enjoy the summer. |
