Planters draw with Barking

Hipperson opens the scoring

Norwich United 1 Barking 1
Bostick League North Division

Manager Steve Eastaugh made two changes from the side that lost 4-0 at Haringey Borough a fortnight before, Adam Probert and Matt Brown replacing Angus Mackie and Jamie Speller.

The Planters made the early running and Shaun Wones long ball forward found Nathan Stewart but the youngster was well closed down by a visiting defender.

Adam Hipperson was causing problems for the visitors and a 25 yard free kick went wide, then a couple of minutes later a strong run along the edge of the area ended with his shot lacking power.

Hafeez Sanusi then fed Hipperson on the left side of the area but this time he got the shot away but visiting goalkeeper Ollie Bowles held it well.

On a rare Barking attack a Alan Taylor shot from outside the box went just wide of the far post.

The Planters took the lead in the 31st minute. A crossfield ball from Henry Pollock found Hipperson on the left side of the area and from an acute angle he fired past Bowles and into the back of the net.

Hipperson almost turned provider when he played in Stewart who was denied by Bowled who deflected his shot wide for a corner.

Andy Eastaugh was next to benefit from a Hipperson cross but his header at the far post went over the bar.

Sanusi put Hipperson through but as he put the ball past Bowles and into the net the offside flag was held aloft.

A strong run down the left from Timi Abiola ended with his cross finding Taylor at the far post, but he put his shot over the bar when it seemed easier to hit the target.

The Planters then led at half time, it could have been more but the visitors almost got an equaliser they didn't deserve on the run of play.

Whatever was said in the Barking changing room at half time seemed to have the desired effect, the Blues were straight out of the traps with Theo Ola dribbling into the box but his cross was missed by Taylor in the middle.

Andy Wilton had to save to deny Dan Gilchrist on the hour but a minute later and the Blues were level when Gilchrist put Taylor away in the area and he netted past Wilton from close range.

This woke the Planters up and Matt Brown fired wide from distance and then Pollock fed the ball through to Hipperson who under pressure fired in a shot which Bowles saved.

Barking thought they had taken the lead in the 80th minute when Jay Knight poked home from close range but the ref had already blown for a foul on Brown by Kiernan-Hughes-Mason.

Hipperson was still striving for the winner and saw a shot from wide on the left go into the side netting and then in injury time latching onto a Tim Henery through ball he saw his shot hit the outstretched leg of Bowles.

Possibly two points dropped, but Barking were much improved after the break and the spoils were shared.

Planters: Wilton, Probert, Brown, Wones, Eastaugh, Watts, Henery, Pollock, Hipperson, Stewart (Jones 65), Sanusi. Unused subs: Lapite, Mokake.
Barking: Bowles, Tarbard, Abiola, O’Brien, Jaffa, Da Cruz, Taylor (Da Silva 90), Levett, Knight (Marfo 83), Gilchrist, Ola. Unused subs: Hughes-Mason, Komla-Ferguson, Kadima.
Referee: George Byrne. Assistants: Jason Ding & Lewis Venables.
Attendance: 92

Picture: Adam Probert (Credit: Sonya Duncan/Archant)