Essex Junior Trophy Final – Season 2015-2016
Barkingside Under 21s 3-0 Pro-Athletic, Wednesday 25th March 2015, Kick-Off 7:45pm, Len Salmon Stadium, Essex Saturday Junior Trophy Final.
A clinical second-half performance saw Barkingside’s Under 21s side claim the Essex Saturday Junior Trophy thanks to a 3-0 win over Pro-Athletic at Bowers & Pitsea FC’s Len Salmon Stadium.
Goals from OlisehOkugun, Jess Collier and Charlie Gregory proved to be the difference as Barkingside became the first side from the new Ryman Under 21s League to lift the Junior Trophy silverware.
“I think our fitness told in the end,” said ‘Side boss Danny Lee after the game. “They [Pro-Athletic] put us under a bit of pressure in the first half, but we didn’t take the few chances that came our way, either. But we kept our discipline, kept patient and knew more chances would come and we took them well in the second half.”
Despite their Under 21s title, many of Danny’s side are actually under 18 and the Manager ensured his team were aware of the achievement in defeating a side from the open-age County Motor Works Vauxhall Mid Essex League. He said: “It’s really pleasing for the boys as they are still very young men. We had a huddle at the end of the game and I told them this will be the first of many! Hopefully it is and we’ll see you again next year!”
At times it was an edgy first half which saw Pro-Athletic enjoy much of the possession, although some of the better openings went the way of the young Barkingside team. With just 3 minutes played, ‘Side’s Collier side-footed over the top from 15 yards before the same player found space inside the penalty area thanks to a fine touch, curling just wide of the far post.
Athletic’s first chance went the way of Marcus Allen, whose 25-yard effort was well held by goalkeeper Alex Londors, while Jamie Saveal curled a free kick onto the roof of the net. In-between, Barkingside’s Aidan Lucas turned and fired inches over the top from inside the area.
Barkingside started brightly after the interval and Jake Mernagh fired a tester into the gloves of Athletic ‘keeper Steven Brown before the young outfit grabbed the lead on 57 minutes. A ball forward found Okugun, who arrowed a low shot into the corner. Within a minute, Barkingside had given their opposition a mountain to climb as they added their second. Collier’s shot also found the bottom corner, possibly via a deflection, from the narrowest of angles.
Conor Crosby’s free kick dropped just off-target as Pro-Athletic looked for a way back into the contest but, with 15 minutes remaining, Barkingside sealed their win through a low centre which was swept into the bottom corner by Gregory.
Barkingside Under 21s: Alex Londors, Bobby James, Manny Nwokorie, Lee Dann, TaiwoAkindele, Aidan Lucas, Keith Ragon, OlisehOkugun, Jess Collier, Cass Okonkwo, Charlie Gregory. Substitutes (repeated): Tommy Lee, Jake Mernagh, Joe Jessop, Conor Sheehan, Greg Frederick.
Pro-Athletic: Steven Brown, Thomas Read, Ross Kirkum, Brian Lingard, Conor Crosby, Marcus Allen, Jamie Saveal, Shaun McGhee, Matt Hatt, Rick Hassan, Joe Probert. Substitutes (repeated): Sam O’Donnell, Ciaran O’Donnell, Tom Salter, Danny Elvin, Matt Vickers.
Bookings: Pro-Athletic: Read (39, foul), Crosby (42, foul), Ciaran O’Donnell (89, foul)
Attendance: 227.