Jordan Parson reports on a return to winning ways, even if the title is now beyond the Blues.
Barking took the spoils after travelling to Wadham Lodge and securing a 4-2 win with two goals from Joe Bricknell and strikes from Joe Pearman and Lamar Reynolds.
After drawing 2-2 against London Bari in mid-week, the title push became mathematically impossible with only three games remaining for the Blues. Realistically they are now aiming for a top-three finish and a push for promotion.
It took less than a minute for the Blues to grab the lead, after a Pearman cross found the head of Bricknell who fired home to give the visitors the advantage.
Barking weren’t content to sit back and were constantly asking questions of the Lodge defence. It wasn’t until the 25th minute that Pearman had a clear-cut chance, but it went begging, as he sent it just wide of the upright.
In the 33rd minute Pearman had another chance to turn from supplier into scorer. After showing quick feet he turned the Lodge centre half and took his chance from 12 yards out and make it 2-0 to the visitors.
Challenge
The Barking fans were hoping that there would not be a repeat of the Bari game midweek, where Barking went 2-0 up and then drew the game.
But recent history looked set to repeat its self after Barking centre back Billy Rix lost his head, receiving a second yellow after a strong challenge on Harry Honesty.
Things were starting to go bad to worse for the visitors after Honesty took the free kick and curled it into the top corner.
However, after the break Bricknell was up to his old tricks after he broke free and beat Lodge keeper Elliot Green in a one-on-one, firing down the middle of the net, to make it 3-1 to the visitors.
The Lodge didn’t make it easy for Barking as they began to take control in the late stages of the game. They even managed to grab a goal back after Charlie Georgiou headed home from a Shafik Walusimbi cross, but Reynold’s goal preserved the two goal advantage.
The result puts Barking three points behind second placed Basildon United, who have three games in hand over the Blues. It also puts them seven points clear of fourth-placed promotion hopefuls Bowers and Pitsea FC, but they have eight games in hand over the Blues.