After heavy rain throughout the day I was really surprised to arrive, along with a friend and fellow football fan, at the Cricklefield Stadium, home of Barkingside FC, to find the game still on tonight.

Barkingside FC play in the East Counties League South Division (Thurlow Nunn League)Coming into the match they sat in sixteenth place, with some points between them and the relegation places but not enough to have any chance of making a promotion place this season. Manager, James Wakeling, would have wanted his side to find some resolve and claim three points, especially with home advantage.

Wormley Rovers however, came into the fixture with promotion firmly on their minds. The away team sat just 12 points behind the league leaders but with six matches in hand. Manager Ryan Wade would have been hoping his players could show the determination required to secure promotion in the run in of the final quarter of the season.

73 eager fans huddled together, mainly under the shelter of the main stand at the Cricklefield Stadium, as the rain fell heavily prior to kick off.

In the 23rd minute a long ball fell neatly into the wet ground, holding up just long enough, to fool the Barkingside keeper and provide a goal opportunity for Charney Dash and he slipped the ball into the net to put the away side 0-1 ahead.

In the 28th minute a neat back heeled finish by Josh Asikou put Wormley Rovers 0-2 ahead.

In the 44th minute Barkingside FC had a goal back, with a fine long range effort by Adrijus Lapacinskas. His shot went along the ground and past Ryan Hammond, to nestle in the Wormley Rovers net, making it 1-2 at the half time break.

In the 53rd minute the game swing back in favour of the away side. Jayden Tshimanga for Barkingside was sent off for handling the ball on the goal line and Charney Dash scored from the penalty spot, to make it 1-3.

In the 55th minute is was 1-4 when Michael Mignot scored for Wormley Rovers, taking the ball around the keeper with ease.

In the 77th minute it was 1-5 after a well placed finish by Josh Asikou, scooping the ball high into the Barkingside FC net.

In the 79th minute Josh Asikou completed a well earned hat trick to make it 1-6.

In the 84th minute the rout was almost completed, when a penalty was given for a reckless challenge and Cav Clarke finished from the spot, to make it 1-7.

In the 89th minute a rocket header from Louie Offer made it 1-8.

There was still time, in the 90th minute, for Kaydn Michael to make it 1-9 to the away side.

As the whistle went the away side began celebrations that were long and loud. The other teams in the league would certainly have taken notice of this scoreline. Barkingside fell apart on a wet evening and a tricky surface and will know they owe it to themselves and the fans to do better.