Stevenage FC

Both sides will be hoping to remember, remember the fifth of November as another explosive battle is expected on Bonfire Night in Barking. A place in the ERWFL League Cup is up for grabs…

Background Check

Barking have an interesting history having been a ERWFL Premier League side from 2013 to 2015 with a 7^th and 6^th position respectively. The information dries up, although we know that Barking would have been competing in the Essex County Women’s Football League in Tier 6 during the 2020-21 season if COVID had not wreaked havoc. Come the 21/22 season, Barking were elevated into the ERWFL Division 1 South, a division that saw them finish in 4^th place that year. Last season saw the Essex side win the Division with a massive 46 points and 80 goals scored. Barking will now be looking to better their best ever finish of 6^th this season and avenge the League Cup defeat to Stevenage last season.

Head to Head

Not a lot has changed since the last meeting, aside from a humdinger of a league match being added to the statistics with an eight goal thriller and an equal amount of goals on both sides. The goals weren’t all that was equal, both sides had a player score a hat trick and an additional goalscorer. Boro’ looked to have the game in control with a two goal cushion thanks to Lilia Dempsey and Amy Makewell. However, Barking had an exceptional five minute spell towards the end of the first half that saw a Laura Bunton double restore parity.

Twice more, Boro’ took the lead. First Makewell sent an audacious effort over Serena Hand from distance before Lindsay Sibbons equalised with her head. Makewell completed her hat-trick to give Boro’ the three points again, only for Bunton to snatch them away again with her hat trick goal. It was a fascinating tie and the next fortnight will see these two teams do battle twice more. Game on!

Team News

Barking lined up in the previous fixture as follows:

Serena Hand (GK), Ammarah Ali. Laura Bunton, Nicole Caicedo, Kiera Colthart, Daisy Cook, Sarah Finch, Poppy Hartwell, Jemma McCarthy, Juliet Thomas, Sade Walters.

Emily Glensman, Grace Holt, Chloe Jackson, Niamh Pridie and Lindsay Sibbons entered the game from the bench.

Of those players, Jemma McCarthy and Laura Bunton would appear to be nailed on as the only ever presents for the ten games played this season. Serena Hand had played the previous nine games but was replaced by Leanne Ramm, a former West Ham U21 goalkeeper, in their defeat to Royston Town last weekend – so it remains to be seen who will get the nod for this game. Ali, Cook, Thomas, SIbbons and Finch are all likely to appear too, having played nine games – with Hartwell also likely to play having started the last four games for Barking.

Boro’ remain without the usual suspects of Lucy Webster and Sarah Payne, with Sophie Hendy close to a return, but unavailable. Having just won last weekend by a considerable margin, it would be somewhat of a shock to see the manager make too many changes, although none will have been forced.

Ones to watch

Laura Bunton continued her excellent goalscoring form against us last time out which has helped her towards the eight goals she has netted so far this season, remaining top scorer for her side. Ammarah Ali and Lindsay Sibbons have weighed in with goals of their own and if she starts, Leanne Ramm will be an interesting one to view as an up and coming goalkeeper.

Emily Schofield scored her tenth senior goal at the weekend and will now be chasing Chloe Gunn as the second highest goalscorer ever at the club currently. Gunny is on eleven! Celine Ray is, of course, another up and coming goalkeeper and off the back of a clean sheet, will be hoping to take confidence from that into this game.  Amy Makewell tops the Boro’ scoring charts with six goals, but Dempsey has made a superb start to her Boro’ career and will be looking to maintain that this weekend.

Tale of the Tape – The Season So Far…

Barking

It was only four games ago that these two teams met for their thrilling stalemate, but Barking have maintained a mid-table presence with inconsistent results. Since the draw, Barking have lost to Luton Town and Royston Town, whilst defeating St Albans City – a result that completed the league double over the side with the Abbey! This will also be the seventh consecutive home game for the side from North East London. Astonishingly, that win against St Albans is the only victory in that run of games, with the draw against Stevenage the only other point gained, since their win away at St Albans. A five-nil win over AFC Dunstable remains their other league win with a point from their game against Bowers & Pitsea.

Home Form

Stevenage

This was a competition that Boro’ reached the final of, only to lose to Luton in a tight contest. As it stands, Stevenage remain two points and two places below Barking which will be more important going into next week’s contest. Today only counts towards the cup, making it a one off match, so the inconsistent form of both sides will go out of the window as they scrap for safe passage to the next round. Boro’ have also played ten games and although it is not a consecutive number, have faced eight away games so far! The most recent, matching Barking’s five-nil demolition of AFC Dunstable, but in their back yard. Prior to that, Boro’ crashed out of the FA Cup at the final qualifying round and missed out on a home tie against Billericay, thanks to league leaders – Real Bedford. Equally, Stevenage cruised through to the next stage of the County Cup so a win here, would make for another successful cup campaign.

Away Form

Around the Grounds

All eyes are on the League Cup as all of the teams from the Premier Division make their entry this weekend. We have some all Premier clashes, such as Royston Town who will face struggling Kings Lynn Town and of course, this game, Barking v Stevenage. However, the lower divisions also take part this weekend and that means Stevenage U23s will travel to face Watford Development at The Hive as they hope to progress in what will be a difficult game against the Division One South leaders who have a 100% record in the league so far. Real Bedford will not play their game until the 19^th, whilst Luton had their game postponed until the 26^th. Haringey Borough were also due to face St. Ives, but with the latter folding, Haringey are the first team into the hat for the next round!

AFC Dunstable V Fakenham Town

Hertford Town v Needham Market

Royston Town v Kings Lynn Town

Southend United Community Sports Club v Wroxham

St Albans City v Stanway Pegasus

Thetford Town v Bowers & Pitsea

Barking v Stevenage FCW

U23 watch

The U23s earned a draw against 4^th placed Fakenham Town last weekend thanks to a belting free kick from Ella Mercer, a vital point as the side fight to remove themselves from the foot of the table. That goal took Mercer level with Imogen Lightning for goals scored this season. Stephanie Fausse has already scored as many as Matilda Thomas-O’Keefe did last year in her award winning campaign. Meanwhile, Remi Martin has a hatful out in second place. Katie Boyle with one goal also remains the only player to have played in every game so far this season.