Barkingside 2 Benfleet
Thurlow Nunn League Division One South
Friday 24th January
Barkingside returned to winning ways after a 2-1 home success over Benfleet. It was a tight battle with both defences takinig it in turns to soak up pressure, but in the end Dan Jones’ 69th minute opener was added to in the 88th minute when Berkcan Belindir got the final touch to a ball across Benfleet’s six-yard box. Benfleet had levelled up via a Taylor Lawrence penalty five minutes before time, but the hosts made sure of the points by scoring again before the contest was over.
Ben Foord had an early chance for Benfleet which needed Jack Ryan to get down low to his right to palm away. Ryan also had to save a Sam Dulieu header, while another Benfleet ball into the Side box had to be lashed clear by Patrick Szyman. Eventually Barkingside were able to contain Benfleet and curtail their attacks. The hosts even applied a bit of pressure themselves but their first chance of note ended up being drilled over by Carl Mullings.
Muyiwa Osenie went on a good run for the hosts in the 38th minute but a solid tackle from Aaron Russell ended that move; at the other end and good approach play by Benfleet came to nothing as Dulieu could only rifle his shot high over the bar.
The hosts almost took the lead in the closing stages of the first half as Joe Gent delivered a flighted pass to Johnson Santos, who fired off a low shot that Kai McMillan did extremely well to tip round the post.
Barkingside started the second half with some purpose, and won an early corner that bobbled dangerously around the Benfleet box before being finalyy cleared. Then a deep cross casued McMillan all manner of trouble; unable to make a clean catch, the Benfleet keeper then had to work hard to get his hands on the ball while Gent placed him under pressure.
The hosts managed to get a half-chance when a cross from the right wing ricocheted off a Benfleet player, but while Jones was unable to make a solid enough connection on the ball to turn it in.
Side were having more of the possession but Foord was denied by the Side keeper on the hour, then a Sonny Hartman shot was saved by Ryan, which also had the Benfleet player’s appealing for a handball, but the referee turned their appeals away. However the visitors were now having more of the ball and so the Barkingside backline had to stand tall and deal with a few balls that were sent into their box.
However it was the hosts that broke the deadlock in th 69th minute when Osenie flashed a ball across Benfleet’s box where Jones was waiting to volley home.
Benfleet very nearly found an instant leveller though as Dulieu placed a header only inches wide. And the Side defence had to soak up further pressure as the visitors looked to get a foothold. A ball over the top in the 79th minute saw Ethan Evison give chase but the Side keeper reacted quickly and got down to smoother the ball and snuff out the chance.
Evison went close with a header in the 83rd minute; then two minutes later Grant Webb worked his way into Barkingside’s box and was fouled by Ryan. The referee had no hestiation in pointing to the spot and Hartman fired a shot that went in off the post to drew the sides level.
But the hosts went on to re-take the lead in the 88th minute as a Jones free kick swept across the box and was bundled home by Belindir. They say all goals count, this one certainly did and ends a recent spell of poor performances that have hindered Barkingside’s promotion chances, but they now move up to fifth after this result.
Barkingside: Jack Ryan, Jonathan Ogunsanya, Shaquel Foyewa, Archie Hammond (Charvey Mahoukou 59′, Berkcan Belindir 82′), Patrick Szyman, Elliot Scott (Capt), David Etcheri, Daniel Jones, Carl Mullings, Johnson Santos, Joe Gent.
Scorers – Daniel Jones (69′), Berkcan Belindir (88′).
Benfleet: Kia McMillan, Alfie MacDonald, Bobby Bird, Aaron Russell, Sonny Hartman (Capt), Charlie Sullivan (Ethan Evison 61′), Grant Webb, Sam Dulieu, Ben Foord (Enoch Gyimah 78′), Taylor Lawrence, Jamie Brown.
Scorer – Taylor Lawrence (85’p)
