Essex Senior League: Barking 4 Newham 1
In what started off as a close contest, Barking ended up comfortable winners as they cruised past fellow East London outfit Newham.
And all four goals from the home side were headers, as number 10 Joe Pearman played a key role in the victory.
Barking started the brighter, moving the ball quicker than their opponents, and took the lead in the sixth minute when Pearman whipped a cross in from the left hand side to find Joel Barnett, who angled his header into the top left hand corner over Newham goalkeeper Rob Hatton.
The early goal gave Barking more confidence and they went close again through winger Joe Omnigate who tested Hatton with a low drive which was pushed away.
It was one-way traffic, but the home side would then be in for a shock, as the visitors equalised with a sensational goal in the 16th minute.
Arshad Coowar floated a ball to the edge of the box to Cary Wright, who chested it backwards to Vlad Sighiartau and he crashed a half volley into the top left hand corner from 25 yards out.
It was a goal that shocked Barking and they were close to going behind as centre back Billy Rix nearly put into his own net with a back pass which almost caught out keeper Michael Green.
Both sides were cancelling each other out as the half draw to a close until Barking left back Billy Reynolds split the visitors defence open with a ball over the top that found Omnigate whose header was tipped onto the bar by Hatton only to see the rebound headed in by Steve Willis.
It was a big blow for Newham and they were outplayed in the second half, with Blues applying relentless pressure after the restart.
The first 15 minutes were all Barking as they pushed for a third goal, with Pearman threading some dangerous through balls for team-mates, but there was no finish.
A third goal arrived in the 68th minute when Newham conceded a corner which wasewhipped in by Pearman and found captain Ben O’Brien rising above Coowar to head into the top left corner and open up a two-goal lead.
The setback spurred the visitors back into life and they had a great chance to reply in the 73rd minute as striker Darryl Wilson struck from the angle only for his shot to be beaten out by Michael Green.
Barking then broke upfield and star man Pearman was found on the right, cutting inside and seeing his effort strike a post.
Any hope of an unlikely Newham comeback was then shattered four minutes later as Barking substitutes John Bricknell and James Peagram combined for their fourth goal.
Bricknell drew defender Kobie Ambrose to him and dummied a shot to set up a two-on-one chance for the home side, then unselfishly crossed the ball to strike partner Peagram who headed into an empty net for his 26th goal of the season.
It was nearly 5-1 with five minutes remaining as Pearman produced another great ball over the top, but Peagram missed the chance to double his tally as he chipped the ball over Hatton, but also over the crossbar.
Victory keeps Barking in third place, one point ahead of Bowers who have no fewer than six matches in hand but must play eight times in 16 days to end their season.
Newham, meanwhile, look destined for the wooden spoon as they are now nine points adrift at the bottom of the table with only three matches left to play.
Barking: Green, Tarbard, B Reynolds, Taylor, Rix, O’Brien, Joe Bricknell, Willis, Barnett, Pearman, Omnigate. Subs: Foster, John Brciknell, Peagram, Golby, Ling.
Newham: Hatton, A Clark, Akanbi, Ambrose, Ladegh, Coowar, Agdelen, Wright, Wilson, Sighiartau, S Clark. Subs: Parker, Williams, Lewis, Stanley, Ofori.
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