Barkingside 1 Basildon United 1 (Basildon United won 4-3 Penalties)
Errington Challenge Cup 2nd Round
Monday 8th January
Report by Scott Lanza / Photo by Sherry Cumming
Basildon United are through to the Quarter Finals of the Errington Challenge Cup after defeating Barkingside on penalties on Monday evening. The hosts put aside a losing league run at Burnham Ramblers on Saturday and were able to keep their high-flying visitors at bay for large parts of the game, going in at half-time a goal to the good.
The Bees had an early chance in the opening ten minutes when Kurt Smith floated over a cross that Jamie Selby-Knight headed over. Barkingside had a go themselves with Jayden Mitchell-Brown attempting to lob Connor Wheatley, but the Bees keeper kept the shot out.
The always dangerous Marc Bowers was kept quiet by a hard working Side defence, who showed a bit more resolve and fight, putting in many strong tackles to deny Basildon shooting opportunities. Bowers was able to fire off a shot midway through the half, but veteran keeper Ryan Karrar, who was drafted in recently, showed good instincts to stop the shot.
Roddy Lemba bundled his way into the Basildon box but was soon dispossessed by Selby-Knight. But he was soon able to force Billy Willis into an error which allowed him to unload, but on this occasion Wheatley pulled off a good save. Lemba however pounced on the rebound, centred to Ryan Imbert, who side-footed the ball home to give Barkingside a 37th minute lead.
The Bees immediately asked the Barkingside rear-guard a few questions after falling behind. A lofted pass to Bowers was cleared by Joe Mendy, while Karrar controlled his defence so well that they were at times solid, meaning he wasn’t tested too much in the first half. However Karrar had to pull off a diving save to keep out a Bowers free kick right on the stroke of half time.
The Bees opened the second half with a swarm of activity around the Side box, with Karrar having to cut out a Bowers shot, before a Basildon corner was flicked onto the post by Luke Hornsley.
Barkingside went on the attack themselves when Michael Ogboin had a crack but Wheatley charged the shot down and it was cleared. But in the 57th minute the Bees launched an attack themselves which ended up with a fine delivery from Ashley Blackburn being rifled home by Bowers, who doesn’t miss chances like that from close range.
But clear cut chances dried up as both teams cancelled each other out. Lemba won Barkingside a corner in the 75th minutes when his shot was knocked away by Chris Charlery. The hosts made no usage of the corner and it drifted tamely away. Matheus Santos turned the Bee’s defence inside-out but his final shot was straight at Wheatley. Karrar had to cut out crosses as Basildon spent the final five minutes trying to penetrate the Side box. Lemba cleared one ball away and Karrar had to tip away a lofted George Whitby free kick. Side however had the ball in the Basildon box twice in the final minute. But both were wasted as first Ogboin fouled a Basildon defender whilst trying to connect with Lemba’s cross; then the final seconds saw the ball fall to Santos but he hurried his shot and ended up spooning the ball high over the bar.
Barkingside scored their opening three penalties as Ogboin, Lemba and Billzy all despatched their kicks; Karrar pulled off a save to keep out Selby-Knight’s penalty for Basildon United, which was sandwiched between two successful kicks taken by Bowers and Spooner. Wheatley then saved Santos’ penalty with Renew rifling home his one to level the shoot-out at 3-3. Briggs took Barkingside’s final penalty which Wheatley saved; the final penalty was taken by George Whitby whose conversion won the tie for Basildon United. They now have a home tie with holders Takeley in the Quarter Final.
Barkingside: Ryan Karrar, Kofi Billzy, Ricardo Bailey, David Etcheri, Joe Mendy, Mike Bottone, Roddy Lemba, Jayden Mitchell-Brown, Ryan Imbert (Matheus Santos 81’), James Briggs, Ben Clarke (Michael Ogboin 51’).
Scorer – Ryan Lambert (37’).
Pens – Michael Ogboin, Roddy Lemba, Kofi Billzy.
Basildon United: Connor Wheatley, Billy Willis, Jamie Selby-Knight, Grant Cumming, Chris Charlery, George Whitby, Luke Hornsley, Tom Barton (Oli Spooner 46’), Marcus Bowers, Sam Marsh (Jack Renew 74’), Kurt Smith (Ashley Blackburn 17’).
Scorer – Marcus Bowers (57’).
Pens – Marcus Bowers, Oli Spooner, Jack Renew, George Whitby.
