Spillane would have been impressed with his side’s start to the game with Mitchell Das and Dan Trenkel working hard up front. On 10 minutes, Redbridge went into the lead when a long throw-in by captain Billy Sendall (in absence of Glen Golby), was not dealt with by Ware’s defence and Vinnie Durrant lashed the ball home giving Ware’s goalie Obey Murefu no chance.

It was Durrant’s first goal of the season and given the winger’s performances so far this season he is certainly someone who Spillane and his coaching staff will be looking to score at least 10-15 goals this season given the fact he’s dangerous coming of the wing and inside the area as well.

The goal was the second one scored as a result of a Sendall throw-in this season already, coming a week after Lewis Dark’s goal against AFC Sudbury last week. Whilst Sendall is much more than just a defender who can throw the ball into the box, clearly it’s a ‘weapon’ that looks like is going to catch alot of defences out this season.

Ware’s defence clearly hadn’t learnt from Sednall and shortly after another throw into the box caused the hosts problems again. Unfortunately for Redbridge’s players in the area, the ball wouldn’t quite fall into their paths and frustratingly the hosts were able to get the ball clear.

John Bricknell was making his debut for Redbridge in the middle of the park and was linking up with Lewis Dark in the middle. Despite that though Bricknell dallied on a ball outside of the Motormen’s area allowing Ware’s Ben Andreos to run goalwards and the striker brought a foul from Sendall to earn a freekick from 25 yards out.

Ironically it would prove to be a costly freekick, ironically for the hosts. Ware skipper Joe Stevenson stepped up and forced Joe May into making a smart save to win a corner. Stupidly from the resulting corner, after the ball was cleared, Stevenson petulantly stamped on Jamie Haywood making his debut for the Motormen inside the area leaving the referee Wade Norcott no option but to send him off. It was sheer stupidity from Stevenson who had no excuses for his action.

With a man advantage, Redbridge looked to press on and two great balls into the box by Tommy Spillane almost doubled the Motormen’s lead but one was headed out with Das waiting to pounce with the second seeing Ben Bradbury force an excellent save from Murefu.

Ware were not looking confident and a long ball from the back almost saw Ware’s Vince Rispoli head past Murefu as a result of a mix-up outside the box. Not long after good play by Trenkel and Das put in Durrant but the winger could only drag a shot wide from a tight angle.

Despite Ware being down to 10 men, they blew a great chance to equalise when Durrant unluckily handled in the area from a cross back into the area by Danny Johnson. Norcott rightfully pointed to the spot but surprisingly Andreos stepped up to blast the penalty wide of the May’s right-hand post with the keeper guessing the right way anyway.
Bradbury was working hard down his flank and he put a peach of a ball into the box which Durrant connected to only for Murefu to tip the ball onto the top of the bar with the ball going over.

In first half-stoppage time, Ware were reduced to 9 men when Johnson childishly headbutted Dark (who had already been elbowed in the first half), after reacting to a high foot from Redbridge’s no.8 giving the officials no other option.

HT Ware 0 Redbridge 1

Immediately after half-time, Spillane brought on the energetic Billy Hunt for Dark with Trenkel dropping back into midfield where he’s more accustomed to pulling the strings in the game.

Durrant and Das were continuing when they left off in the first half and good play by them down the flank presented Bricknell with a chance inside the area, but the midfielder could only fire staright at Murefu.

Murefu by now was becoming a pest for the Motormen and he was keeping Ware in the game. 10 minutes into the half he made another good save denying Durrant inside the area after Trenkel had put in a good ball into the box.

Ware though to their credit didn’t give up and put several testing balls into the box much to the annoyance of Spillane and his coaching staff who were far from happy that a side with 9 men were looking dangerous going forward. But thankfully due to the solidness of the defence, they did enough to clear the ball.

Tom Querey spectacularly almost got the hosts an equaliser but his 35 yard shot sailed just wide of May’s post and it was just a surprise that Redbridge couldn’t double the lead late on as both Hunt and the impressive Das saw shots blocked.

In the end though it was a good win for the Motormen and gives them something to build on going into Bank Holiday Monday’s clash against much-fancied Enfield Town. Yes the win should have been far more comfortable than it was, but the players will learn from that – and be better for it.

Redbridge: James May, Billy Sendall, Tommy Spillane, Jonathan Wheatstone, Jamie Haywood, Mitchell Das, Ben Bradbury, Lewis Dark (Billy Hunt 46), Dan Trenkel, John Bricknell, Vinnie Durrant (Shane Stamp 68).

After the game I caught up with our manager Terry Spillane and got his thoughts on what turned out to be a highly-eventful match. To hear the interview in full go to http://www.mediafire.com/?ilz2440sxx10cz5 and download the interview.