Friday 25th October, 2024 | Barking 2-4 Buckhurst Hill | Essex Senior Premier League | Attendance : 86
By Harry Biggs
The Stags are back to winning ways after picking up a massive 3 points on the road against Barking FC at The Lawtech Stadium. Firstly a massive thank you to everyone who tuned into our first ever live audio commentary on friday night. A brilliant match to commentate on and we nearly hit 500 listeners throughout the game which is amazing.
Mark Williams returned to the dugout against Barking after missing Tuesday’s eventful evening against Sawbridgeworth at home. Mr ‘Floppy’ Williams made a few changes to his side who looked to bounce back after conceding two late goals in stoppage and missing the opportunity to rise to 7th in the table before friday’s proceedings. Ollie Williams was the first name back on the team sheet and would come straight in to captain the side alongside Archie Hammond and Dan Jones in midfield. Suley Zuhdu was available for The Stags and would start up front for Mark’s side, replacing Alife Padington who dropped to the bench. Jude Carolan also returned for Buckhurst Hill after a few weeks out with an injury, and would replace Ted Buchanan at left back. Finally Bradley Ismaili would earn his debut under Mark after Jonathan Ogunsanya would pull out of the side just before kick off with an injury picked up in the warm up.
Onto the action now and it didn’t take The Stags very long to take the lead after Barking were happy to control possession but would give the ball away carelessly in dangerous positions. The first goal happened inside just 7 minutes after the ball was given away by Sam Edwards for Barking inside The Stags’ half and it would fall to Ismaili who would hook the ball over the hosts’ defense and would land at the feet of Robertson who was brought down in the penalty area but there was no need for taking the foul and the ball would find Suley Zudhu who would hammer it into the Barking net to give Buckhurst Hill an early lead away from home.
Barking would have the fair share of possession in the first half but would not be able to pounce on the chances they were given. The hosts looked most dangerous on set pieces, mainly corners where a crowded penalty still couldn’t beat Buckhurst Hill’s inform Smith in net.
The Stags would extend their lead to 2 goals after 33 minutes when a dangerous cross was sent in by Archie Hammond and the ball would find Ismalili, who would square the bar to Suley Zuhdu who then would power the ball into the bottom corner at put The Stags 2-0 with a similar effort to his first.
The second half of action now and Toby Smith would be called into action right as another dangerous Barking corner was delivered into the box and a shot sent goalwards was brilliantly claimed by Smith.
It wouldn’t be much longer until The Stags extended their advantage to 3 goals after Suley Zuhdu claimed his long awaited hat trick for The Stags and his first of the season. It was a brilliant attacking move from The Stags after Zuhdu played a one two with Carolan who drove through The Barking defence and would take a shot at Dan Purdue who would make a good save but would push the ball into the path over Zudhu would who volley the ball from outside of the box and would make it a comfortable lead for Mark’s Stags.
Barking would get one back after just 3 minutes when The Stags defense was cut open and a flying ball was played across goal and was finished up by Barking’s first half substitute Akintunde to peg a goal back for The hosts in this one. Barking would have another back 7 minutes after their first after Tyreece Robertson would miss an open goal up the other end and Micah Jackson was sent through on goal and would take a shot at a very tight angle but would be able to squeeze his shot past Smith was power and accuracy to give Barking another lifeline in this friday night thriller.
The Stags feared another repeat of a late comeback after being 3 goals up and did not want to lose a vital 3 points against Barking which would make a great win for Mark’s side.
A fourth goal would come for The Stags and would surely put this game to bed after a brilliant corner was crossed in by Hammond and the flying ball would find Buckhurst Hill substitute Lucas Willison who would deflect the ball into the net of the side of his body, but he didn’t care after opening his account in black and blue colours.
81 minutes gone and Smith would make a brilliant save to deny Barking another goal back into the contest. Zudhu would miss the opportunity to make it 5-2 and so would Padington in stoppage time after going through on goal against The Barking keeper Purdue and putting his effort at the goalkeeper.
The final action in the game was a moment of heroics from Ollie Williams after a shot was fired against both posts from Barking and with an open goal the rebound was surely going in but captain fantastic Williams would make a flying header to deny Barking of a certain stoppage time constellation goal. It ended in a 4-2 victory on the road for The Stags and would see them rise to 7th in the table and would stay there after Saturday’s results.
TEAM :
Smith 🧤, Foyewa 🟨, Carolan, Hammond, Harris, Ismaili, Thompson, Williams ©️, Zudhu ⚽⚽⚽, Jones, Robertson
SUBS :
Padington (60’ – Foyewa), Willison 🟨 ⚽ (65’ – Jones), Robertson (80’ – Tacine), Ogunsanya, Buchanan
UPCOMING GAMES :
Tuesday 29th October – Great Wakering Rovers (H) – Peter Butcher Memorial Trophy
Friday 1st November – Ilford FC (H) – Essex Senior Premier League
Tuesday 5th November – Canvey Island (H) – BBC Essex Senior Cup – 🎙️ Audio Commentary
