Whilst The Bridge were suffering an unusual, nowadays, rain off against Halstead Town, our upcoming opponents Barking were having probably their best result of the season at Stanway Rovers. Stanway hadn’t lost since the opening day of the season (I know… I checked this to make sure but it’s true!). So, we face what should be a confident opposition on Saturday…just what we need!

Our opponents Barking, after that impressive win, are 4th in the ESL table and heading for the play-offs. They have 55 points from 28 matches with 17 wins, 4 draws, and 7 defeats. The goal difference is a modest +18, with 56 scored and 38 conceded. Away form is not bad for a play-off chasing team, with 7 wins, 2 draws, and 4 defeats from their 13 matches. 25 for and 16 against gives the Blues a +9 away GD.

Here’s what Barking have been doing in their last six matches…

BARKING – season 24/25 – The Last Six (seven)
(most recent results first)
Barking 3 Erith Town 1
London Cup Quarter-Final
Here’s a bonus game!
A London Cup Quarter-Final against Isthmian League South East Division Erith Town (step 8, level 4) and Barking cruise into the Semi-Final with a 3-1 victory. Ex-Bridge man Ugonna Emenike opens the scoring, floating one over the goalkeeper but he probably didn’t mean it (if you’ve not seen it, trust me, it’s a cross!). Alfie Atrill makes it 2-0 before Erith get one back through Harry Taylor. His 88th-minute strike though is nullified when Sam Edwards gets a margin restorer on 93 minutes.

Stanway Rovers 1 Barking 3
The previously mentioned impressive away victory for The Blues at the league leaders last time out didn’t get off to the best of starts when Stanway opened the scoring through Nathaniel Mardell after 12 minutes. However, Hassan Nalbant equalised on 20 and Sam Edwards sent The Blues in 2-1 up at half-time. That’s the way it stayed until the 97th minute when Nalbant added his second and Barking’s third to secure an unexpected but excellent away victory.

Buckhurst Hill 2 Barking 1
Sam Edwards put the visitors 1-0 up after 29 minutes and it looked like they were going to take the points until a late 1-2 from The Stags. Nathan Boamah with an OG on 88 minutes and Ollie Williams in added time on 94 won it for the home side at Myrak Park.

Barking 2 Takeley 1
A good home win for The Blues against play-off chasing rivals Takeley. A Sam Shaban double was enough despite George Powell reducing the deficit to one in the 76th minute as The Blues gathered three vital play-off chasing points.

Saffron Walden Town 2 Barking 1
Another clash of the play-off chasers saw SWT take the three points with a late 80th-minute winner from Kaleel Green. This was preceded by a 2nd-minute Solomon Ofori opener and a Sam Shaban penalty in the 66th minute. The three points meant SWT continue to put pressure on the four teams currently occupying the play-off places.

Barking 4 Halstead Town 3
I used this in the Halstead write up and it’s pretty good, so…Generally, lots of goals in Halstead games and this was no different as Barking snatched the points. Sam Edwards opened the scoring for The Blues before Halstead went 2-1 up through Lester Ward and George Frodsham. Tony Martin equalised right on half-time and scored again in the 53rd minute to make it 3-2. Tyrese Sibanda made it 4-2 before Alfie Cleal pulled it back to 4-3 but Barking held on.

Little Oakley 1 Barking 1
Another decent away performance from The Blues who take the lead with a Fahad Nyanja goal before Idress Namisi gets a second-half leveller for The Acorns. Ugonna Emenike (remember him?) receives a quick-fire yellow and red card in the 76th minute as Barking are reduced to ten.

Player Appearances
1 Juwon Akintunde 37
2 Teddy Stacey 34
3 Sam Edwards 32
4 Jerrold Cobblah 24
5 Sam Shaban 24
6 Ezekiel (Izzy) Bademosi 22
7 Dan Purdue 20
8 Miles Smith 20
9 Pat Ahern 19
10 Jay Bacon 19
11 Akilijo Balliu 18
12 Ryan Cosson 17
13 Fahad Nyanja 17
14 Max Spence 17
15 Charlie Thomson 17
16 Marcel McDonald 14
17 Henry Mabassa 13
18 Tony Martin 12
19 Andy Greenslade 9
20 Bradley McDonald 9
21 Tyrese Sibanda 9
22 Caleb Dennis 8
23 Chris John 8
24 Andre Anderson 7
25 Alfie Attrill 7
26 Ellis Lawson 7
27 Nelly Malek 7
28 Hassan Nalbant 6
29 Steven Wade 6
30 Micah Jackson 5
31 Jalen Johnson 5
32 Deivi Kreka 5
33 James Reynolds 5
34 Ugonna Emenike 4
35 Michele Maccari 4
36 Geneiro Maragh 4
37 Michael Mignot 4
38 Fahad Nazor 4
39 Jeremy Arthur 3
40 Teddy Bowden 3
41 Kye Mitchell 3
42 William Oduwa 3
43 Olu Shobowale 3
44 Danny Taylor 3
45 Sakeel Balfour-Brown 2
46 Saweed Djinadou 2
47 Michael Ngoo 2
48 Simon Omope 2
49 Jaiden Putman 2
50 Noah Adejokun 1
51 Josh Blaize-Carr 1
52 Nathan Boamah 1
53 Panayiotis (Panny) Boxer 1
54 Lewis Byrne-Hewitt 1
55 Samuel Dowridge 1
56 Omar Eisa 1
57 Presley Evans 1
58 Anthony Folkes 1
59 Akan George 1
60 Joseph Johnson 1
61 Lamar Joseph-Johnson 1
62 Billy Knott 1
63 Alvin Kyeremeh 1
64 Theophilus Lukyamuzi 1
65 Roman Michael-Percil 1
66 Bradley Monks 1
67 Fionn Murphy 1
68 Ernest Okoh 1
69 Favour Orihu 1
70 Rhys Paul 1
71 Lorenzo Saponara 1
72 Archie Sherrin 1
73 Stephen Stafford 1
74 Sherquan Toussaint 1
75 Oliver Webdale 1

Links: Over the years, there have been loads, the obvious ones being ex-Bridge management team Justin Gardner and Michael Walther. Of the incredible 75 players Barking have used this season, there are not so many, but I'm sure you can spot a few!

Ellis Lawson, who was a decent left-back for The Bridge in their Isthmian League days, is one, and a recent addition is Ugonna Emenike who played quite a few games this season at left-back and left-wing. Lamar Joseph-Johnson has made just one appearance and played a few times for The Bridge, but that’s all, which is surprising in a total of 75!

Founded: 1896 (refounded 2006)
Nickname: The Blues
Ground: Lawtech Stadium, Mayesbrook Park, Dagenham (Capacity 2,500, seated 250)

Chairman: Rob O’Brien
First Team Manager: Craig Edwards
First Team Assistant Manager: Wale Ojelabi
Physio: Chanelle Callison

CLUB HONOURS
Barking FC are steeped in history and below are our major honours, for a full list
please visit www.barking-fc.co.uk
Isthmian League - Champions 1978/79
Essex Senior League - Champions 2016/17
Athenian League - Champions 1934/35
London League Premier - Champions 1920/21
London League Division One - Champions 1909-10
FA Non-League Team of the Year 1978/79
FA Cup - Second Round Proper 1978/79, 1979/80, 1981/82, 1983/84
FA Amateur Cup - Runners Up 1926/27
FA Trophy best - Second Round 1979/80
FA Vase Best - Fifth Round (Last 16) 1996/97
London Senior Cup - Winners 1911/12, 1920/21, 1926/27, 1978/79
Essex Senior Cup – Winners 1893/94, 1895/96, 1919/20, 1945/46, 1962/63,
1969/70, 1989/90
East Anglian Cup – Winners 1937/38, 1953/54 (Shared)
Essex Thameside Trophy – Winners 1952/53 (Shared), 1956/57, 1958/59, 1996/97
Gordon Brasted Trophy – Winners 2014/15
Errington Challenge Cup – Winners 2022/23
Dylon Shield Winners 1979/80
Essex Senior League Reserve
Division – Champions 2011/12

The club has also been Champions in the following competitions:
Essex Elizabethan Trophy, Essex Intermediate Cup, East Anglian Cup, South Essex League, Leyton &
District League, London Charity Cup/ Eastern Floodlight Cup, Essex Floodlight Cup, Mithras Cup and
the Premier Midweek league.

Since 2006/07, Barking have spent the majority of their seasons in the Essex Senior League albeit they have also spent five seasons in the Isthmian League, either in the Isthmian League Division One North or the Isthmian League Division One South Central. In 2016/17 The Blues won the Essex Senior League title with 100 points from their 42 matches. That season, The Bridge finished 11th. They dropped back into the ESL after finishing 19th out of 20 in 2021/22. Their best finish since then was last season where they finished 4th and were beaten in the play-offs by Romford 1-0.

The Bridge and Barking – recent meetings:

Season 2024/2025
Saturday 30th November 2024
Barking 1 The Bridge 0
Just 54 were in attendance to see debutant Michael Ngoo score the only goal of the game on the half-hour mark and that was enough to settle the match in favour of the home side who held their lead and claimed their third consecutive clean sheet. The win left Barking in 6th place and The Bridge in 17th, similar to the positions that the two teams are currently occupying, albeit Barking are two places higher!

Season 2023/2024
As mentioned above, Barking finished the season in 4th spot with 70 points from their 38 games, whilst The Bridge finished in 12th with 49 from 38. The Two meetings between the teams were:
Tuesday 10th October 2023
Barking 1 The Bridge 3
An eventful game at Mayesbrook Park where Martin Tuohy scored after 13 minutes before Barking keeper Arshak Sargsyan and The Bridge’s Eman Okunja received red cards around the half-hour mark. Midfield maestro Jon Evans then equalised for The Bridge before Bobby Badham put us 2-1 up. Tuohy then received a red in the 75th minute and Solo Ofori wrapped it up in the 89th.

Saturday 17th February 2024
The Bridge 0 Barking 4
By now, Barking had found the form that would take them to the play-offs and comprehensively defeated The Bridge at Lower Road with two goals from Tony Martin, one from substitute Bradleigh Rowland, and one in added-on time for Luke Hirst.

Season 2022/2023
Barking were back in the ESL after relegation the previous season and finished 7th with 65 points from 38 games. With The Bridge competing in the Isthmian League North, the two teams did not meet this season.

Season 2021/2022
A tough season for both teams saw Barking relegated from the Isthmian League North, finishing 19th out of 20 with 32 points from 38 games, and The Bridge staging their “Great Escape” and finishing 16th with 39 points. The teams met twice during the season as shown below:
Saturday 14th August 2021
The Bridge 0 Barking 4
135 in attendance at Lower Road to witness a big away victory for The Blues with two goals from Charlie MacDonald and one each from James Folkes and George Purcell.
Saturday 11th December 2021
Barking 1 The Bridge 2
Revenge for that early season defeat for the Bridge as they take the three points at Mayesbrook Park. The 78 in attendance see Jay Leader (a future Bridge team member) put Barking in front before the Legend, Tony Stokes, scores either side of half-time to win it for The Bridge.

Barking This season:
League positions in brackets are current position
Home: Won 10, Drawn 2, Lost 3 (F31, A22 = +9) Pts 32 ESL 3rd
The Blues have ten home wins at the Lawtech Stadium this season:
West Essex (14) 1-0
Benfleet (15) 5-2
Little Oakley (10) 2-1
Saffron Walden Town (6) 3-1
Hullbridge Sports (17) 1-0 Boo!
White Ensign (8) 3-2
Romford (7) 3-1
Athletic Newham (9) 1-0
Halstead Town (16) 4-3
Takeley (3) 2-1
They’ve drawn two:
Stanway Rovers (1) 1-1
Ilford (12) 2-2
Leaving three defeats against:
Buckhurst Hill (11) 2-4
Frenford (13) 0-2
Woodford Town (2) 1-2
Away: Won 7, Drawn 2, Lost 4 (F25, A16 = +9) Pts 23 ESL 5th
The Blues seven wins on the road were at:
FC Clacton (20) 3-0
Halstead Town (16) 5-2
Stansted (19) 1-0
Great Wakering Rovers (5) 2-0
Sawbridgeworth Town (18) 2-0
Frenford (13) 3-1
Stanway Rovers (1) 3-1
The two draws were at:
Ilford (12) 2-2
Little Oakley (10) 1-1
Leaving four defeats at:
Takeley (3) 1-3
White Ensign (8) 0-2
Saffron Walden Town (6) 1-2
Buckhurst Hill (11) 1-2

Up for the cup!
In the FA Cup, Barking exited at the Second Qualifying Round Stage, losing 0-1 at home to Gorleston in a replay after a 2-2 draw at Gorleston (Isthmian League North, step 4, level 8). This was after progressing from the Extra Preliminary Round, winning a replay at home to Tring Athletic 1-0 after a 1-1 draw. Tring are members of the Spartan South Midlands League Premier (step 5, level 9). Next up was a 1-0 win at Redbridge (Isthmian League North, step 4, level 8) in the Preliminary Round. The First Qualifying Round saw a trip to St Neots (United Counties League Division One South, step 6, level 10), and a 2-2 draw saw Barking win the replay 3-2, before that exit in the next round against Gorleston.

In the FA Vase First Qualifying Round, Barking beat FC Baresi of the Eastern Counties League Division One South (step 6, level 10) 4-0, before losing at home to Takeley 3-0 in the Second Qualifying Round.

In the BBC Essex Senior Cup First Round, Barking won at White Ensign 5-3 on penalties after a 3-3 draw. Round Two saw The Blues exit 0-1 in a home defeat to Buckhurst Hill.

West Essex knocked Barking out of The Errington Challenge Cup at the Preliminary Round stage, winning 2-1 at the Lawtech Stadium. In the Peter Butcher Memorial Trophy, FC Clacton won 4-3 at Barking in the First Round.

The Blues are having a bit of a run in the London Cup, winning 3-0 at Haringey Borough in Round 2 and 6-5 on penalties after a 3-3 draw at AFC Croydon Athletic in Round 3. On Tuesday they won in the Quarter-Final, as mentioned above, 3-1 against Erith Town.

The Bridge: 2 wins; 0 draws; 4 defeats; For 9; Against 11; GD -2; Points 6
Barking: 3 wins; 1 draw; 2 defeats; For 12; Against 10; GD +2; Points 10

Most of what you look at points to a Barking win. Form guide where Barking are 8th against The Bridge’s 15th, win percentage at 61% v 29%, not to mention their win against league leaders Stanway Rovers in their last league game (I said not to mention!). The fact that they’ve won 7 games away from home, including wins over GWR & Stanway. OK, enough, we’re not beaten yet.

In the last six league matches, The Blues have used 27 players, including 4 different goalkeepers although the keeper of choice is Dan Purdue. Other mainstays of the team are Alfie Attrill, Caleb Dennis, Sam Edwards, Sam Shaban, Fahad Nyanja, and captain Pat Ahearn. Recent additions include Hassan Nalbant and Egonna Emenike. All are likely to figure if available, probably along with leading scorer Juwon Akintunde. Recent goalscorers have been Sam Edwards, Sam Shaban Tony Martin (mainly from the bench) Tyrese Sibanda, Fahad Nyanja, and Hassan Nalbant with two against Stanway.

The Bridge in the last six have used 25 players, featuring Laurance Whymark, Jack Nolde, Connor Hart, Piers Hatcliff, Sam Carter, Oscar Jones, and the now-departed for Woodford Town Eli Benoit. Recent addition Darnell Williams has scored most of the goals recently, with a few others adding some here and there (Connor Hart, Oscar Jones, Louie Hunt, Iziah Antoine). Expect to see most of those, although sadly not Eli.
So, let’s see what happens…

The ESL kicks off on Friday again this week where Woodford travel to West Essex and, despite a dip in form, should take the points. Most likely winners are GWR at FC Clacton and er, Barking at The Bridge! Stanway should bounce back against out-of-form SWT and Takeley are favourites to win at Benfleet. Romford should edge out Frenford and the other games are a close call but what do I know!

What I do know is that the boys will need all the support we can give them on Saturday and as always…