Eastside Athletic 2-1 Barking Colts
The club's first-ever competitive goal, and a first league win, in a scrappy affair.
Eastside Athletic picked up their first-ever league win, edging out Barking Colts 2-1 in a scrappy, hard-fought contest — a repeat of the pre-season meeting between the two sides, which Eastside won 4-2.
Travelling squad: Francis Hastings (GK), Bailey Hossack (Player/Manager), Tobi Omotosho, Matty Stacey, Richard Agu, Owen Oakford, Finley Morrison, Josh McNamara, Logan Hossack, Jack Hobbs, Danny Fenn, Bruno Da Fonseca, Alfie Stacey, Prince Bansende, Alfie Mason (C).
A delayed kick-off left Barking Colts starting the game with only 8 men, and Eastside made them pay early. Owen Oakford scored the first competitive goal in the club’s history — a looping cross-shot from the right wing that dropped over the Barking Colts keeper into the top corner, after a brilliant surging run forward from right centre-back Alfie Stacey.
It wasn’t long before Eastside doubled their lead. Slick play between Oakford and Matty Stacey teed up Danny Fenn on the edge of the box, who hit it low and hard across goal and in off the post to make it 2-0.
Once Barking Colts got their full 11 on the pitch, they took the game to Eastside, hitting the post and crossbar three times in the first half alone — bad luck the visitors couldn’t have done much more to avoid.
The score stayed 2-0 for the majority of the second half, until a cynical challenge from Josh McNamara gave Barking Colts a penalty late on. Francis Hastings guessed the right way but couldn’t keep out a low, hard finish into the bottom corner, making it 2-1.
Barking Colts pushed hard for a leveller in the closing stages, forcing a free-kick save and a string of last-ditch defending, but Eastside held on. Six yellow cards in total told the story of a scrappy, physical contest — but the result was what mattered.
A first league win, and a first competitive goal in the club’s history — a day to remember.
Man of the Match: Danny Fenn
Up next: Lonsdale (H) in the league — Lonsdale come into the game off the back of a heavy 9-2 home defeat to Young Royals this weekend.
PRIDE OF THE EAST