Eastside Athletic 4-2 Barking Colts
Another statement win, and two more debut goals for the club.
Eastside Athletic backed up their heavy 9-1 defeat to May & Baker EC with a first win against Romford Town Flyers, and continued that momentum on Sunday with a superb 4-2 victory over Division Seven Cup winners Barking Colts.
Travelling squad: Francis Hastings (GK), Tobi Omotosho, Corey Sears, Bobby Goodall, Prince Bansende, Mason Active, Danny Fenn, Alfie Mason (C), Kai O’Hare, Owen Oakford, Logan Hossack, Billy Longford, Alfie Stacey, Finley Morrison, Mason Godfrey.
Eastside made a flying start. Right wing-back Mason Active cut in and rifled home a left-footed strike to make it 1-0 — his first goal for the club. Kai O’Hare doubled the lead soon after, then added a second of his own before the break to put Eastside 3-0 up at half-time — a dominant opening 45 minutes.
Barking Colts came out fighting after the break, pulling one back with a header from a corner, and the momentum stayed with them for a spell. But Eastside had a moment of magic in them too — centre-back Alfie Stacey drove forward from the back and squared the ball on a plate for Logan Hossack to tap home, another first-ever goal for the club, this time from the youngster, making it 4-1.
Barking Colts had the final say, a free-kick that wrong-footed goalkeeper Francis Hastings to make it 4-2, but it was Eastside’s day.
Two more players off the mark for the club, another big win against a side with real pedigree, and clear signs of a team improving week by week as pre-season enters its final stretch.
Man of the Match: Kai O’Hare (again!)
PRIDE OF THE EAST.