Redbridge were playing their third match in five days here, the perils of still being in two Cup competitions you may say. George Christou’s team had an understandable air of squad rotation about it, but goalkeeper Connor Wheatley started, with a defence comprised of centre-back pair Joe Elliott & Nathan Okoye, and full-backs Bradley Bennett & Tayo Olukolu. Captain Jack Chawner was alongside Jerrold Cobblah and Reuben Campbell in midfield, with George Purcell & Tony Martin leading the attack, with support from Joey May. Stanway are in transition, and have not had an easy campaign being where they are in 13th place. Former Colchester Utd legend Karl Duguid took the team here, and named Alfie Marigliani as their stopper, with full-backs Sean Bartlett & Emmanuel N’Daw and centre-backs Olumide Akinode & Freddy Cooper comprising their backline. Jordan Barnett, Joe Debell & Max Sherlock were the central midfield three, with Harry Thomas, captain James Crisell and Nathaniel Mardell the forward three.

The early stages of this game were entertaining to watch as Rovers looked to pile the pressure on the visitors. Forward Nathaniel Mardell made two enterprising runs down the right flank in these early stages, but couldn’t quite find the final pass or a finish respectively to significantly challenge visiting custodian Connor Wheatley. Midfielder Jordan Barnett also had decent strike just wide of the left-side post. George Christou’s team did push forward, perhaps sensing the need to wrestle momentum back and after one of several good runs made in the match by energetic midfielder Reuben Campbell, his effort was off-target but served as a warning for Rovers to not be too expansive going forward. To their credit though, Stanway responded well and a fine strike by centre-back Freddy Cooper just inside the eighteen-yard box was well-denied by Motormen stopper Wheatley.

What ended up being the decisive goal came on twenty-four minutes as centre-back Nathan Okoye took advantage of indeterminate marking on a set-piece to plant his header into the net at the near post. One of the better phases of the game for the second-placed side also saw in-form forward George Purcell head over the goal frame. Stanway were not fazed by their deficit and skipper James Crisell’s goal-bound effort required another decent save from Wheatley as the visitors had to do their share of defending, with centre-backs Joe Elliott & Nathan Okoye characteristically miserly in clearing the ball away in an efficient way.

The second half was a more restrained contest, with less chances cropping up for both teams. Mardell had again fired wide for Rovers in a rare glimpse at goal. Redbridge had a few chances, chiefly an acrobatic strike by substitute Tendi Quamina from just outside the area, which had to be cleared off the goal-line.

Campbell also fired wide for a Redbridge side which still showcased their game management skills to good effect here, and also their lead was slender, they were not extensively pressured in the latter stages and claimed a vital win, which saw them jump back up above FC Clacton into second place, with a key ‘promotion six-pointer’ at Enfield set for Wednesday night.

report by Scott W
@ScottMHC14