On a dark and cold Tuesday night at the Oakside, it was the visitors who went home happy as they edged a hard fought encounter. It was a spirited performance by the hosts in their first game back at Oakside since they lost to Lowestoft Town on December 12th.

It was a nice mixture of youth and experience for the Motormen with Leon Diaczuk, Simon Peddie and Julian Ashby involved alongside the youth in Wes House, Charlie Georgiou. Manager Dave Ross fielded House and Chuck Duru up front with the team looking for that new pairing to inspire them to a vital win.

The first chance of the game fell to the visitors with Chris Doyle forcing a breathtaking save from James Marrable in goal. Doyle took one touch before shooting the ball goal wards after a poor clearance from the goalie; however Marrable redeemed himself by pushing the ball over the bar when he looked beaten.

With Mark Nougher and Diaczuk working well in midfield, the visitors got a break when they won a freekick 25 yards from goal. Although it looked like Redbridge were lined up well to defend it, Joe O’Brien stepped up and curled the ball goal wards where it did just about enough to beat Marrable in goal.

Redbridge almost equalised just before halftime when House was picked out brilliantly by Diaczuk. With Potters goalie Matt Bennett off his line, the young striker deftly tried to lob the ball over him and into the back of the net. House did the first bit right, but the ball didn’t have enough power to go in and with Duru running in to score, Potters defender Gaz Douti somehow got back to clear the ball off the line.

The second half brought few chances for either side with substitute Jack West making an impression for the Motormen as he linked up well with Duru. West was unlucky not to score a goal himself when after Duru headed a Lee Matson cross down for him; the forward couldn’t quite control the ball well enough to mount a serious effort on goal. Moments later another long ball from the back presented Duru with a chance after West brilliantly headed the ball into his path. Sadly Duru shot high and wide.

Towards the end Diaczuk received a booking for a high tackle on O’Brien, with the supporting crowd calling for a red, the official Mr J Mellor saw sense in realising the midfielder was solely going for the ball and gave a yellow card.

The last chance of the match fell to Jordan Watson but Marrable in goal prevented the visitors from scoring a second when he made a smart save down at his feet. Overall it was a defeat for the hosts, but one in which they will need to carry the spirit shown forward to move them up the table.

Report by Adam Dennehey

Redbridge: Marrable, Wilson, Peddie, Matson, Dickinson, Diaczuk, Georgiou (Port), Nougher, Duru, House (West), Ashby (Batchelor)