Defeat At Dereham

The Motormen in truth never got going and fell behind on 10 minutes to a free-kick from Luke Tuttle from just 25 yards. Mark Parker in goal standing no chance as the ball flew over the ball before curling brilliantly in at the keeper’s right-hand post.

Good work by Shane Wallace down the right provided Redbridge with a glimmer of getting a swift equaliser. However the forward’s low cross wouldn’t quite settle enough for Brian Moses at the far-post to turn and poke the ball home.

Shortly later on 19 minutes Dereham doubled their lead from the spot, when a trailing leg by Vinny Murphy caught Ryan Hawkins in the box. The winger himself stepped up putting the ball high and true to Parker’s left.

Mark Nougher was doing his best to get Redbridge back in the game. The midfielder now in his third spell at the club linked-up well with Shane Wallace and Brian Moses before chipping over the bar from 20 yards.

Just before the half-hour mark Dereham’s Hawkins missed a penalty after Parker was adjudged to have brought down the winger. Redbridge’s keeper dived again to his left and held onto Hawkins’ low shot.

Dereham weren’t too upset about that miss as moments later they went 3-0 through one of the best goals that will be scored all season. A cross from the right found Tuttle on the edge of the box. The forward controlled the ball before hitting a brilliant overhead kick over his shoulder that flew into the bottom left-hand corner. All Parker and his team-mates could do was watch in awe. It was a goal reminiscent of Dimitar Berbatov’s against Liverpool three years ago.

Matters would get worse for Dave Ross and Ricky Eaton when Leon Smith was sent-off a minute before the break when he was adjudged to have elbowed Craig Bussens in an aerial-challenge for the ball. That red-card was the third given to Dereham’s opponents already this season.

Despite being a man-light Redbridge gave their all in the second-half and only really tired in the final 20-25 minutes of the game. Dereham’s front-line continued to threaten with Hawkins in particular proving a right again down the right.

A cross from the winger on 76 minutes found Toby Hillard in the area who poked the ball home past Parker (who had enjoyed a fine second-half) to wrap up the proceedings. Redbridge are next back in action in midweek on Tuesday night when they host Burnham Ramblers at the Oakside.

Report by Adam Dennehey