Barking denied Basildon United the title after a 1-1 draw, as Jordan Parsons reports.
Petrit Elbi’s spot kick ensured a draw that prevented Basildon from lifting the Essex Senior League crown.
Basildon went into the game on level points with fellow challengers Bowers and Pitsea and needed a win to secure the title (though Basildon would not in the event, apply for promotion). Barking, who had already finished fourth, went out with the aim of simply improving on their last performance.
With the home side having everything to play for, they started the game knocking the ball about ferociously, and nearly took the lead after just five minutes. Shomari Barnwell split the Barking defence to force a strong right-handed save from Barking keeper Michael Green.
However, after 10 minutes Barnwell rose to meet a cross from the right wing heading past a scrambling Green, and make it 1-0 to the home side.
Unfortunately, the game descended into a stalemate for half an hour as Basildon were content to hold the lead, and hold play down in the centre of the park.
Barking got their first clear-cut chance in the 40th minute after Stephen Willis was put through one-on-one, only to mis-kick the ball and send it agonisingly wide.
After the break news soon spread that Bowers and Pitsea had gone 1-0 down to Hullbridge Sports, but this clearly influenced Basildon who began to show cracks at the back.
They were soon made to pay after Elbi was brought down in the box by Basildon centre back Bobby Mason. Elbi took the penalty and coolly placed it into the bottom left.
Basildon tried to throw everything at the Barking defence, but they missed a raft of chances to take the lead. News had soon spread that Bowers and Pitsea had scored two goals in quick succession, and the Basildon players sank.
Basildon looked a defeated side, and neither side pushed for chances as the ref blew for full time, ending it all square.
In what has been a rollercoaster season for Barking, they have not let their fans down finishing in a commanding fourth place. This improvement from last season will leave the fans hopeful that next year will be their year and the Blues achieve promotion into the Ryman League.