Motormen Progress via Shoot Out

Redbridge made the short journey to Conference South side Chelmsford City for this Essex Senior Cup 4th Round tie.

The Motormen were playing just 6 days after their 3rd round victory at Roots Hall against Southend United u19s side and with their weekend league fixture postponed it gave manager George Christou an opportunity to field a strong side. Chelmsford due to their link up with ESL side Coggeshall Town were able to field some of their players along with a mix of some 1st team players.

The early intent appeared to be with Redbridge as the first chance came to James Barlow who headed wide from a corner however they did take the lead after 14 minutes. Soumen Nandi held the ball up before finding Solomon Ogunwomoju in space, the striker had time to take a touch before firing a shot low into the corner beating debutant keeper Henry Gray.

Before the away side had even finished celebrating the hosts went straight up the other end and equalised, Callum Jones finishing low past Connor Wheatley to draw his side level.

Redbridge almost found themselves back in front, a well worked move down the right eventually saw the ball crossed into the middle where Louie Johnson connected well but brought out a great save from Gray who claimed well.

Chelmsford then had a dangerous break through Ody Alfa down the left which required Henry Day to come across and make the challenge which broke the move down but got himself a yellow card for doing so.

As the half time break approached the home side should have gone ahead as they missed two good opportunities, Jones firstly firing over from close range after Kenny Coker had headed down a corner before Coker himself headed a Alfa cross wide of the target.

The first chance of the second period saw the lively Alfa allowed to run at the Redbridge back line before shooting wide.

Redbridge then immediately went on the attack as a lovely cross field ball fell at the feet of Ogunwomoju and he cut inside a defender before looking to find the top corner but was unable to keep his effort down which flew wide.

In what was now becoming an open game Chelmsford thought they had taken the lead, a good run and cross from Jones found Alfa who won his headed and directed it goalwards only to see it hit the cross bar and bounce down before being cleared, any shouts for a goal were quickly denied by the referee who said the ball had not crossed the line and allowed play to continue.

At the other end a great chance for Redbridge to go back in front, superb strength and desire to win the ball from Barlow saw him cross into an unmarked Ogunwomoju who lacked composure as he blasted over when he surely should have scored.

It was soon a costly error when Chelmsford were awarded a soft penalty after Alfa went down in the box, up stepped Jones to score his second of the night and put the hosts in the driving seat with a well despatched spot kick.

A good attack from Chelmsford then needed to be well defended by Redbridge as they conceded a corner as the clock started to tick down.

The Motormen were drastically searching for an equaliser as they continued to pile forward, another guilt edged chance was spurned by Ogunwomoju who decided to go with his weaker foot.

With the assistant showing an additional 5 minutes Redbridge won a series of corners and pushed up everyone including keeper Wheatley and the referee spotted a push on him in the box and in turn awarded a penalty in the 97th minute.

Up stepped substitute Ayo Odukoya to show calmness by sending Gray the wrong way and levelling up the scores, with no extra time being played the match then went straight into a shoot-out.

With both sides missing one each from their first four taken Joe Elliott scored Redbridge’s 5th before Chelmsford skipper Jazzi Barnum-Bobb stepped up only to see his effort saved by Wheatley to see the Isthmian North side progress into the Quarter Finals

report by Adam Silver