Motormen into Essex Senior Cup Final

Redbridge hosted Maldon & Tiptree in the Semi Final of the BBC Essex Senior Cup with Colchester United awaiting the winners.

It was the third encounter between the sides this season with the stats currently standing at one win a piece.

Maldon started on the front foot buoyed on by their travelling support and had the first shot of the match when Andrea Hasanally made room for himself before firing in an effort which was straight into the welcome arms of goalkeeper Connor Wheatley.

From the resulting kick Redbridge attacked down the right in turn winning the first corner of the game.

An early change for the visitors as Harry Phillips found himself unable to continue and was replaced by Milton Oni.

Chance for Redbridge as Jack Chawner struck a fiercely through a crowded penalty box. Luca Collins did well to palm the ball away as would have seen it late.

Redbridge were staring to look dangerous coming forward especially through the lively Soumen Nandi and it was he who dug out a cross from the left finding Louie Johnson in space, he chose to hit the ball first time attempting a difficult volley and although he found a good connection the ball flew just wide.

Nandi himself then tried his luck from range before Ayo Odukoya tested the reflexes of Collins with an effort which was saved by the goalkeeper’s legs and put behind for a corner.

As the half time whistle approached Maldon showed their attacking intent going close when a ball was whipped towards the far post finding the diving Lewis Jaggs who headed wide, a good chance indeed for the visitors.

Into the second period and thus far it has proved to be a tight affair with very little separating the two sides, the early pressure this half however came from the away side as they looked for a quick start.

At the other end Chawner on two occasions had opportunities which came to nothing before Nandi down the left won his side a free kick in a dangerous area. Johnson whipped it in finding Odukoya who rose above Collins to win the header however was unfortunate to see the ball drop the wrong side of the upright.

On 65 minutes the deadlock was finally broken, good skill by Nandi saw him drift past a defender before playing in Johnson who saw his first time shot take a wicked deflection off a defender and head into the far corner beating the keeper and defender who tried desperately to clear however the ball had clearly crossed the line.

Shortly after the away sides task was made even more difficult when George Smith was shown a second yellow card for a heavy challenge and subsequently asked to leave the field.

The ten men of Maldon however were then handed a great opportunity to get back into the match, substitute Louis Britton did well to turn away from a defender before driving forward into the box before falling under a challenge from Oscar Shelvey-Negus, the referee quickly pointing towards the spot.

Britton picked himself up to take the penalty but fired straight down the middle where Wheatley stood firm to make the save with his feet and with that you felt their chance had possibly gone.

Frustrations then boiled over as Maldon were further reduced in head count, this time Harrison Chatting dismissed for a stamp clearly seen by the referee who produced an immediate red card.

It was a big final 10 minutes now for home side with a goal and a two man numerical advantage on the field, they took full advantage putting the game to bed with a second goal which was well taken by Odukoya as he twisted inside the box to volley home a Ronnie Winn free-kick.

With 3 minutes of added time then shown Redbridge were happy to just run down the clock and with that the match ended and the Motormen found themselves through to the County Cup Final for the first time since the 1963/64 season.

report by Adam Silver