Sam Reynolds of Barking

National One: Barking 20 Fylde 19

Craig Ratford was the hero for Barking as they picked up a vital victory with the last kick of the game against Fylde on Saturday.

That meant Barking had inflicted a double over promotion hopefuls Fylde, and with the win Tim Usasz’s side moved off the bottom of National One.

Fly-half Ratford, on loan from London Scottish kicked two penalties in the opening 20 minutes to give the hosts a 6-0 lead.

Nick Royle scored the first of his hat-trick of tries as a good break from Oliver Brennand saw the full-back go over in the corner.

Ratford slotted another penalty over the post to give them a 9-5 lead at the break.

Fylde started the second half brightly and with men over on the wing, Royle went over for his second try of the day, which was converted by Richard Kenyon.

In an end-to-end second half, Barking got themselves back in front when Stephen Hihetah completed a fine home move to race in just wide of the posts, though Ratford missed the conversion, while also missing a penalty 11 minutes from time.

But as the hosts looked on course for the win, Fylde looked to have broken the resolute challenge from the hosts when replacement Jack Gash failed to ground the ball and Royle was on hand to touch down, and Kenyon’s conversion put them into a 19-17 lead with six minutes remaining.

The hosts continued to battle away and in time added on they won a penalty just inside the Fylde half, and despite the pressure, Ratford slotted over the kick, and spark scenes of celebration from players, coaches and supporters alike.

Barking: Nelson, Broughton, Henderson, Dodge, Hihetah, Ratford, Parker, Mullins, Wood, McGrath, Burns, Turner, Armstrong, Reynolds, Davies. Replacements: F Ambrose, McIntyre, Yellowlees, Gash, Hardy.