It just felt like one of those days for Redbridge’s support as two tough decisions went against the team and ruined what was otherwise a fairly good performance from the team. Even in defeat Managers Dave Ross and Kris Taylor know that their side is not too far away from producing the results that they’ve deserved so far.

As for this game, Redbridge started the game well with right back Matty Donovan impressing early on linking up with Julian Ashby before firing a powerful 30 yard strike narrowly wide of the goal. It was a good effort from the young player who will be looking to compete for the right back place alongside veteran defender Donovan Wilson this season.

Steve Good in midfield was looking as tireless as ever and a great tackle from the midfielder presented Redbridge with a great chance to take the lead. Good’s tackle on the edge of the box gave Mark Nougher a chance to break forward. Nougher fed a ball forward to Alex Read who linked up well with Anton Agdomar before sending in Nougher clean through on goal. With two defenders getting back to pressure Nougher, the midfielder got a shot away from the edge of the box but was unlucky to see it saved by Sam Mott in goal and the chance was gone.

That scare seemed to wake up the visitors who through some good play won a penalty after 22 minutes. A clever ball from Scott Mulholland caused trouble in the home defence and after Gabriel Momodu headed the ball past Donovan, was brought down in the box by Sean Crossley whose challenge narrowly missed the ball and a penalty was rightly awarded.

Thamesmead’s skipper Lewis Tozer stepped up and sent Dave McCartney the wrong way to put the visitors in the lead.

Thamesmead almost doubled their lead moments later. Good play from Danny Crouch enabled Ashley Roberts to make a run forward. Thamesmead’s left back held of his marker before sending a stunning shot goalwards which McCartney in goal did brilliantly to tip wide.

After that Redbridge got back in the game and were unlucky not to have scored an equaliser in the final five minutes of the half. First they should have won a penalty when the energetic Julian Ashby was fouled in the box. But Referee Sally adjudged that Ashby had dived despite the fact the Thamesmead defender had failed to win the ball much to the anger of the Redbridge dugout.

Moments later Redbridge ought to have equalised. Great play from Ashby and Nougher presented young Read with a chance to score, but the forward blasted the ball over the bar.

As the second half started, the Motormen after ending the first half on the front would have been looking for more of the same going into the second half. Sadly for them Referee Sally made another questionable decision when he awarded the visitors a second penalty after Agdomar was adjudged to have handled a freekick in the area moments after the restart. It looked a very harsh decision indeed. Thamesmead’s Momodu stepped up for the second penalty instead of Tozer with McCartney diving the wrong way again as the ball went right into the bottom right hand corner. It was a nightmare start to the second half for Redbridge and one in which they did not deserve.

Still Redbridge did not give up and subs Julian Edwards, Perry Christian and Matty Gillingham all made an impact as Redbridge had a long spell of pressure to try and get back in the game. Some testing balls from Gillingham caused trouble in the visitors defence and Crossley was unlucky not to score when a towering header at the near post was deflected over the bar.

With two minutes left on the clock, Redbridge finally got on the scoresheet. After Edwards was hacked down on the edge of the box, Read stepped up and confidently curled the ball right into the top corner. It was a great strike from the youngster and one which Mott in goal could only watch on powerless to stop.

Deep into injury time there was even time for another penalty appeal go against Redbridge when Edwards had his shirt pulled after a Steve Good cross. However Referee Sally failed to see it amongst the busy penalty area and sounded the full time whistle seconds later.

Redbridge: McCartney, Donovan, Crossley, Matson, Peddie, Good, Ashby (Christian) , Nougher, Read, Agdomar (Edwards), Stephen (Gillingham)

To have a look at some pictures from the match go to the 2010/2011 Season Album on our website and look at the current photos in that album: https://www.pitchero.com/clubs/redbridge/?section=videos_photos_view&album_id=65850.