The visitors from Sufflok started the game well with Nathan Stone proving a right handful in the opening stages of the game. After bringing out a good save from Adam Rafis in goal, the forward was unlucky not to win a penalty after 10 minutes when Leon Ottley-Gooch’s long ball released Nathan Stone but the forward who scored 3 goals last season against the Motormen for Needham Market, couldn’t get away his shot in time thanks to a challenge from Glen Golby which the referee thought was a fair challenge.

Three minutes passed before Leiston took the lead. After Brothers saw a shot deflected wide for a corner, Gareth Heath sent in a dangerous ball into the area which Ottley-Gooch headed down towards goal with the ball bouncing up off the pitch and into the net. Leiston almost doubled their lead moments later but Rafis did well to save a Rafis effort.

There was a sense that a second goal was coming for Leiston and on 26 minutes it arrived. A long throw-in into the area by Stuart Boardley wasn’t dealt with by the Motormen and somehow Stone’s looping header deceived Adam Rafis in goal to loop into the corner. It was a strange goal for Terry Spillane’s side to concede considering they’re the ones
who are used to scoring from throw-ins.

Redbridge didn’t get too many opportunities in the first half with the side being restricted to long shots that just went over the bar. As the referee blew for half-time, the visitors appeared to be dealt a blow when their keeper Nathan Munson appeared to limp off with an injury.

HT Redbridge 0 Leiston 2

Unfortunately for Leiston they had no substitute keeper on the bench (which is strange in this day and age but there you go) so midfielder Neil Calver had to go in goal due to Munson not being able to take the field for the second half.

It was hard to tell that this change affected the visitors who a minute into the half appeared to have scored a third, but correctly the officials spotted that Joe Jefford had climbed all over Tommy Spillane heading home Gareth Heath’s corner and the goal was disallowed. Barley five minutes had passed and Leiston had another goal ruled out with Danny Head’s close range finish being ruled out for offside. It was a close call to say the least.

Suddenly with 20 minutes to go the Motormen went up the gears and got into action. Dan Trenkel brought out a fantastic save from Calver from fully 25 yards out. From the resulting corner whipped in by Ben Bradbury, Glen Golby saw a header hit the post and go wide from a tight angle. The belief was back in the team and there was a sense that Redbridge were going to hit back.

Then came an incident which certainly will go down as a major talking point from the game when Angleo Harrop burst through with 12 minutes to go. In trying to nick the ball past Glen Golby 40 yards out, Redbridge’s skipper in trying to win the ball appeared to ‘cuddle’ the ball with his hands before clearing. The referee and his official on the near-side waved play on, which was the right decision as it looked like they were uncertain whether Golby had handled, which is the right thing to do in a situation if you are not 100% certain.

Leiston were angry with the decision and thought that Golby being in effect the last-man should have been sent off. Redbridge though were not giving up and thought they had reduced the lead but Bradbury’s effort at the far-post was ruled out for offside.

Incredibly Redbridge hit back with six minutes to go. A long Golby throw-in from the right wasn’t dealt with in the box and sub-James Robinson appeared to flick the ball on into Bradbury’s path who coolly guided the ball into the far corner to score his 2nd goal of the season. The Motormen were now slotting into sixth gear and were putting their bodies on the line in order to try and grab a point.

They got the second goal that their efforts deserved in the third minute of injury time. After Trenkel saw a free-kick blocked from just outside the area, the resulting throw-in by Glen Golby wasn’t dealt with and thanks to the strength of Ryan Murray, sun Jonathan Wheatstone was able to nudge the ball forward for Trenkel who brilliantly hit a low shot on the turn past Calver to the joy of the home supporters. It was the popular midfielder’s second goal of the season and remarkably the sixth the Motormen had scored via the result of a throw-in already this season!

Leiston tried to force in a winner in the remaining time available but Rafis did well to collect a cross into the area and the referee blew his final whistle capping an end to an extraordinary game. Redbridge have now fought back from 2-0 down on four occasions this season picking up 5 points as a result of their efforts.

Spillane and his coaching team have got a great set of lads to choose from and make no doubt about it, Redbridge have shown already this season that they do not give up in games, and that’s a great sign going forward into the season ahead. Long may it continue!

Redbridge: Adam Rafis, Billy Sendall (Jonathan Wheatstone 46), Tommy Spillane, Aarun Best (James Robinson 75), Glen Golby, Dan Trenkel, Ben Bradbury, Lewis Dark, Ryan Murray, Nathan Gordon, Mitchell Das (Joe Gardner 61).

After the game I caught up with our manager Terry Spillane and got his thoughts on our tremendous comeback. To hear the interview in full Click [url=http://www.mediafire.com/?xtm97c4coubfl91]here to download the interview.