Most Non-League fans would have thought that Redbridge’s best chance of making history and progressing through to the Second Round of the FA Cup would have gone after the game at the Oakside against Oxford City went to a replay. How wrong those fans would prove to be.

Redbridge travelled to Oxford in good spirits and with their form good going into the game were confident of causing an upset. Incredibly the game started late due to traffic problems, but that didn’t concern The Motormen who started the game well with Matt Turpin heading a tough chance over after two minutes. Oxford then saw Andy Ballard shoot comfortably wide before Redbridge went agonisingly close to taking the lead.

A fantastic ball in by Vinnie Durrant picked out Nathan Gordon at the back post who timed his leap in the air perfectly to seemingly head the ball into the far-corner only for Oxford’s keeper Keith McCloughlin to produce a stunning save to tip the ball over the bar. From the resulting corner whipped in by Durrant, Turpin frustratingly headed wide when the big defender should have at least got his effort on target.

Against the run of play Oxford took the lead much to the delight of their supporters when ex-Leyton Orient forward Lee Steele controlled a Wayne Blossom header from a Felipe Barcelos corner before firing a low shot past Adam Rafis to put Redbridge behind after 18 minutes.

Redbridge could have been back on level terms within a minute but after Lewis Dark bravely won the ball in midfield, Daniel Hopkins bursting 20-yard run in midfield ended with the hard-working midfielder seeing a goal-bound shot blocked by Darren Pond.

Rafis had to be on his best form to stop Oxford doubling the lead but he tipped over an Adam Learoyd header and did well to gather a long Ballard throw-in from the left moments later. Rafis did well moments later to keep out a low Barcelos header from a corner from the left with Billy Sendall and Glen Golby between them doing what was required to hoof the ball clear.

On the stroke of half-time Redbridge were very unlucky not to be level. A corner by Durrant caused havoc in Oxford’s defence; the ball just wouldn’t drop kindly in the box for Ben Bradbury, James Robinson or Hopkins to take a touch and hammer the ball in with the ball being knocked into McCloughlin’s arms on the line, where he bravely held onto the ball.

HT Oxford City 1 Redbridge 0

Going into the second-half, despite being a goal down at the break, Terry Spillane and his coaching staff still believed Redbridge were in the game and there was a sense that they really meant ‘business’ when they walked back out onto the pitch at Court Place Farm. They started the half well and looked organised at the back with Golby and Turpin heading out a couple of long-throw’s by Ballard minutes into the half. Rafis looked in top-form as saving low down from Steve Basham.

The work-horse Hopkins in midfield was taken off on the hour being replaced by Joe Gardner with Redbridge looking to catch Oxford on the break and get an equaliser. Robinson was working hard up-top and produced a good save from McCloughlin with a shot from fully 25 yards out.

Bradbury was continuing to make an impression and he brought a foul from Steve Basham which won Redbridge a free-kick 35 yards from goal. Durrant whipped the ball in brilliantly into the penalty box, the hosts couldn’t clear the ball and Robinson was clearly fouled by James Clarke meaning that Redbridge won a penalty to get themselves back in the game.

Bradbury who had scored five out of five penalties this season for Redbridge, stepped up to take the spot-kick but his neatly timed shot was saved by McCloughlin down by his right. Thankfully for Spillane’s side Gordon was on hand to coolly finish dinking the ball under the helpless goalkeeper to the shock of Oxford’s supporters behind the goal.

After that Redbridge seemed to step into sixth gear with Gordon at the heart of every attack. With Sendall’s long-throw’s and Durrant’s crossing ability looking ever stronger, Oxford were now fighting for their lives and but for two fantastic saved from McLoughlin to deny Gardner first and then Bradbury, Redbridge could have nicked the game with two minutes left of normal time. However Rafis kept them in it with a good save down at his feet from Declan Benjamin.

FT Oxford City 1 Redbridge 1

Just before the full-time whistle, Spillane took off Robinson for Ryan Murray and shortly into extra-time brought on Jamie Haywood at right-back for Sendall who had run himself into the ground.

Barley a minute into the first period of extra-time and Redbridge could have gone ahead. Durrant’s inswinging corner found Turpin who headed the ball against the inside of the far post with Oxford somehow doing enough to scramble it away to safety.

Redbridge took the lead with the goal that their committed performance had deserved. Dan Trenkel did well to win a loose ball in midfield finding Murray 40 yards from goal. The powerful striker coolly picked out Bradbury on the left-wing with a great through ball, who after a weaving run into the area finished past McLoughlin at his near post

Oxford’s fans were shell-shocked whilst Redbridge’s small travelling
army went into raptures as they realised that they were within 15 minutes of going through to the Second Round. Despite one close shave when an Oxford corner was flicked onto the far-post, Redbridge looked in complete control in the second period of extra-time and but for a great save by McLoughlin to deny Gardner could have won the game by two goals.

When the referee Andy Davies signalled the final whistle, Redbridge’s players, fans and staff couldn’t care less about the gloomy fog around them. Their team had done the impossible and reached the Second Round of the World’s greatest cup competition securing their place in FA Cup folklore forever. Who would have even imagined that at the start of the season? Bring on Crawley!

Redbridge: Adam Rafis, Billy Sendall (Jamie Haywood 95), Vinnie Durrant, Matt Turpin, Glen Golby, Dan Trenkel, Ben Bradbury, Daniel Hopkins (Joe Gardner 61), Lewis Dark, James Robinson (Ryan Murray 90), Nathan Gordon.

Click here for Adam D's interview with our first-team coach Jody Brown from after the game.

Click here for Adam D's interview with our manager Terry Spillane, our assistant coach Mark Penfold and our phsyio Katie Thwaites going back on the team coach after the game.

Click here for Adam D's interview with our first-team coach Darran George going back on the team coach after the game.

Click here for Adam D's interview with some of our FA Cup heroes in Lewis Dark, Vinnie Durrant, Ryan Murray, Mitchell Das, Glen Golby, Dan Trenkel and Nathan Gordon going back on the team coach after the game.

Click here for Adam D's interview with some of our FA Cup heroes in Ben Bradbury, Billy Sendall, Stuart Hepburn, Jonny Glowacki Tommy 'Chino' Spillane and Danny Hopkins going back on the team coach after the game.