Barking & Dagenham S.F.A. u-11s vs Swindon P.S.F.A.

Southern Counties Cup Round 1

Swindon went out of the Southern Counties Cup after losing a thrilling cup tie at the May & Baker Sports Club. Having made the long journey east and with the side missing several regular players the Swindon lads were told to stay focused and battle hard from the first whistle. Unfortunately these instructions seemed to fall on deaf ears and the homesters grabbed the lead with just 24 seconds on the clock.  Adarkwa got to the byline and found Owiredu, who coolly slotted home for his first goal of the season. Things got even worse for Swindon, when Barking  & Dagenham doubled their lead almost immediately. Bacon skillfully brought down a long Lloyd goal kick to create the time and space to release Owiredu, who finished with aplomb past George in the Swindon goal. Barking & Dagenham continued to swarm forward and should have scored a third on tow occasions. The first effort coming from Adarkwa who skipped past three Swindon players before seeing his left footed shot from 25 yards narrowly fly over. The second came from Owiredu who rushed his shot and drove wide of the. Swindon continued to plug away with their neat passing football and halved the deficit from their first real attack. Lea swung over a corner which the homester’s defence failed to clear and Merchant made no mistake from 12 yards to score his third of the season. The goal shocked the home side, who up until that point had dominated proceedings but Swindon rallied and began to get a foothold in the game. Lloyd was called into action as he was tested from another Lea set piece before Biles was denied by well-timed Bolger tackle. The lads from East London however always looked dangerous going forwards and Adarkwa should have restored their two goal cushion but his effort on the turn was inches over the crossbar. Bacon then delivered a wicked corner that caused panic in the Swindon area, before George saved well from an O’Connor a shot from the edge of the area. Although having the lion share of the game, Swindon knew that their hosts’ lead was a slender one and resolute defending from Leach, McGinn and Philips directed by skipper Brown repelled a Barking & Dagenham corner. Broadbank started a swift counter-attack by Swindon, finding the impressive Lea wide on the right. With the home side stretched at the back. and Swindon pouring forwards in support, Lea showed a calm head to draw Lloyd out of his net before sliding the ball across to an unmarked Benge who side footed home to restore parity. The half ended with another Adarkwa chance but Brown bravely blocked the shot to keep the sides level at the interval. The second half started like the first and again Adarkwa was again at the heart of the move, beating 2 men wide on the right to cross for Munns but under pressure from Brown he was unable to keep his shot down and the chance went begging. As before Swindon continued to look dangerous on the break and from another Barking & Dagenham corner the visitors took the lead. Breaking at pace, Philip’s headed clearance found Benge whose diagonal pass to Lea split the Londoner’s defence. Lea outpaced the only defender before firing past Lloyd with an accomplished finish. The game had been turned on its head and the home side immediately set about getting back into the game. The homesters laid siege to Swindon’s goal and in an almighty goalmouth scramble, one, which saw four efforts on goal blocked by brave defending from the visitors. Barking & Dagenham threw players forward but couldn’t find a way past the resolute Swindon rearguard. George then denied first Bacon and then Munns with some excellent goalkeeping. saves. Bacon was thwarted once more by the Swindon custodian who diverted the Thames View pupil’s effort wide of the post. With time running out the home side thought they had equalised only to be denied by an unbelievable piece of defending. Adarkwa found space out wide and his cross-cum-shot looked destined for the back of the net but Cremin managed to head the ball off of the line and away to safety. With that chance gone and time ticking down it seemed as if Swindon would hold on but with just thirty seconds left the home side finally made their pressure pay. Once again it was Adarkwa who created the chance beating two defenders and although Bacon missed his cross, Yeboah was on hand to fire home and send the game into extra time. The timing of the strike was cruel on Swindon, who had recovered superbly from their start but was due reward for the home side endeavors. Both sides went into extra time keen to avoid a reply and the home side, lifted by their late, late show once again started the brighter and they quickly grabbed the initiative. Yeboah, buoyed by his first goal for the side, was involved neatly finding Munns who poked the ball home to put his side back into the lead. With time against them, Swindon knew they had to throw bodies forward. The result was made secure in the second period of extra-time when Barking & Dagenham broke quickly down the right when Bacon spun on the edge of the box to fire home. Swindon, naturally were disappointed at the result and the manner of the defeat was harsh. But their work-rate and commitment having started poorly could not be faulted.