London APSA get better of Barking

Essex Senior League football was back at the weekend with a near enough full house of matches played.

And London APSA and Barking almost certainly produced the most entertaining game of the day, with six goals at Mayesbrook Park leaving APSA’s manager Zak Hussain delighted with the performance and 4-2 win from his side.

Hussain admitted it was a huge “confidence booster” after losing to Sawbridgeworth last Tuesday, saying: “Barking are a good side and we have been on a little bit of a run of losses because we played the top six teams, so we needed a confidence booster and a win.

“All my back four and the whole team was disciplined. We wasn’t on Tuesday we was all over the place.

“We was though from minute one until the end and I think we deserved it.”

Fahad Nyanja was APSA’s star as he bagged a hat-trick and Hussain was full of praise for his skipper.

“He was brilliant, tracking back also and when we needed him to come at the back he did it,” added Hussain.

“That is two hat-tricks already and he hasn’t played much up front as well. He was more wide, but he has got unbelievable ability.”

Barking manager Mick O’Shea was less pleased, but praised some of his young side for their endeavour.

“Fair play to APSA, they nicked it 4-2 but I’m gutted, really gutted,” he said.

“I think the two central midfielders did really well. (James) Barlow and Frankie (O’Shea) they put their nut in where it hurts. They put themselves about.

“Ryan Creed is a plus and Alex Bush did well up top. I think APSA had about five or six shots, but got four goals.”

O’Shea also praised Dagenham & Redbridge loanee Jordan Sidhu, despite the youngster having a poor penalty saved.

He added: “Second half Jordan did well. He is on loan from Dagenham & Redbride. I was speaking to him about his bravery and mental strength because he took the penalty and missed, but you know he took responsibility so I can’t kill the kid for that.”

Both managers agreed it was a penalty but O’Shea was unhappy that former Blues keeper Mark Richardson was not shown a red card.

He called it a “horrendous” tackle, adding: “The penalty miss killed us. If we had put that in we would’ve been in the ascendency in the last 10 minutes and put some pressure on.

“It was an horrendous tackle and he (Alex Bush) has got ice on his jaw. He has taken the geezer clean out.

“I was frustrated that he didn’t get a straight red there.”

APSA boss Hussain praised his keeper for redeeming the situation with a save, adding: “It was strange, but I can see why it has been given. Our keeper shouldn’t have got himself in that situation but he redeemed himself by saving it.”