Redbridge to their credit fought hard to come back from 2-0 down in the first half to keep up their ‘never say die’ attitude but still remain winless at home this season, although they certainly played well last night and left Grays knowing that they’d had to fight very hard for the victory.

Grays went into the lead after only four minutes. Redbridge’s right back Aarun Best had done well with a 15-20 yard run into the opposition’s half but just as he was about to pass to one of Dan Trenkel or Lewis Dark, the energetic defender lost the ball. The ball broke to Jaoa Carlos who sprinted clear before feeding the ball to Joe Sweeney who played the ball back to the lively winger who despite being pushed out wide by Glen Golby produced a stunning drive from 25 yards that crept in past Adam Rafis at his near post. It was a great finish by the former Brentwood town winger.

The Motormen tried to fight back immediately. James Robinson was being partnered up top by Mitchell Das and good play from the two of them in front of goal saw the ball played through to Gordon but the forward could only drive a shot wide of the near post after a brilliant 10 yard run completely lost his marker. Good play by Das moments later won a corner and Ben Bradbury’s delivery was almost headed in by Ryan Oliva but Andy Hall in goal stopped the big defender’s header on the line with a firm boot clear.

It was end to end stuff and with Grays looking dangerous with their front three of Joao Carlos, Sweeney and Louis Dennis (on loan from Dagenham and Redbridge) all looking sharp, Redbridge had to try and hit back. Das was continuing to work hard up front for Redbridge and a lovely turn lost his marker Bradley Thomas before driving a shot from inside the edge of the box wide of Hall’s far post.

Dennis then turned Golby on the edge of the area and won a freekick. Harry Agdomar curled the ball narrowly over the bar. Immediately Redbridge got the ball down their right flank and good play by Best, Dark and Robinson saw a ball into the box fall to Bradbury but the talented winger fired a volley over the bar. It was a great chance for Redbridge’s no.7.

Grays knew they’d got away with that chance and shortly after and doubled their lead. Not alot looked on when Danny Bunce picked up the ball 30 yards from goal, but in the space of 5 seconds he had interchanged passes with Carlos and Agdomar, who in turn had played the ball into the box for Sweeney to fire past Rafis. It was a stunning team-move and one that even had the home fan’s support applauding.

A long Glen Golby throw on Redbridge’s next attack almost brought them back into the game but Trenkel’s header to the far-post evaded Gordon and Das much to the relief of the visiting supporters. But those same supporters were not happy a minute later when 6 minutes before the interval Redbridge got the goal that their first-half play had deserved.

Dogged play in midfield saw the ball break to James Robinson on the by-line. In a similar fashion to the goal he created for Ryan Murray to score in Redbridge’s 3-0 victory at Heybridge Swifts at the weekend, the forward worked his socks off and got to the by-line before sending in a ball across the face of goal for Gordon to tuck home for his third of the season.

After Tommy Spillane saw a free-kick go over from outside the box, Redbridge could have gone into half-time 3-1 down but thankfully after Rafis had saved a David Cowley strike from 30 yards, Dennis failed to make contact with the ball, shooting thin-air much to the frustration of his manager Hakan Hayrettin.

HT Redbridge 1 Grays Athletic 2

Dennis though clearly wanted a goal and with Daggers manager John Still and his assistant Terry Harris watching on, wanted to impress his parent-club manager and show that he’s good enough to warrant being in the League Two’s side first team squad. The striker almost scored a stunning strike three minutes into the half but his rasping low-drive which Rafis may well have stopped had it been on target narrowly flashed wide.

Not long after Oliva went off with a suspected tight hamstring to be replaced by Billy Sendall. That meant only thing that Redbridge now had 2 defenders on who could use their long throw-ins to put Grays under serious pressure. Saying that though, Redbridge were looking good in open-play and pressure on Hall in goal from Bradbury and Das enabled the former-Ilford and Redbridge keeper to dilly-dally on his clearance. Somehow though the keeper after losing the ball blocked the goal-bound effort from Das and the ball went out for a corner.

From the resulting corner, the ball was whipped in and Gordon unluckily after controlling the ball at teh back post saw a drive come back off the woodwork with Hall beaten. It was a blow for the former Ilford and Tilbury forward and would’ve been a great finish given just how well he had connected with the ball.

Terry Spillane then took of the hard-working Das and brought on the tall powerhouse Murray. The forward has impressed this season with his postivie attitude and work-man like play which has seen him win virtually almost every header that he’s had to with his hold-up play being exceptional. Within six minutes the big targetman whose nickname is Rhino because of the fact, he’s at times unplayable due to his physicality had scored getting Redbridge back on level terms.

A terrific ball into the area by Bradbury picked out Murray perfectly and despite having to turn his neck to head the ball into the far corner past Hall, he made a tough chance look easy. It was the forward’s fourth goal of the season brining him level at the top of the Motormen’s scoring charts with Bradbury and Trenkel.

Grays were now rocking and Redbridge a minute after getting back on level terms, should have gone ahead. Dogged play by Trenkel threaded the ball to Robinson who put in a brilliant through ball down the right-flank. Grays’ Lee Flynn was caught on the turn and with Gordon sprinting at 100mph to collect the ball easily beat the defender to the ball and looked odds-on to score but agonisley shot an effort wide of Hall’s far post as he made his way into the area. It was a tough chance for Redbridge’s no.11 but one given his talent that you would have expected him to take.

It would harshly prove to be a costly miss for the hosts as on their next attack Grays took the lead. Sloppy play defensively by Redbridge allowed Dennis to hammer in a low effort past Rafis in goal after sub Jean-Michel Sigere’s knock down had picked him out perfectly to score the goal that his overall play had deserved. Daggers boss Still would no doubt have been a happy man looking on at that, that can be sure!
Redbridge despite some testing throws by Sendall into the area were unable to create a real clean-cut scoring chance and fell to their third league defeat of the season.

Overall there was no shame in losing to the unbeaten league leaders but given the chances the team had and the fact Gordon but for the woodwork and bad luck could have scored four goals, there was no denying the fact that the Motormen should have picked up something from the game. Bury Town will certainly be tested come the weekend and Spillane’s side should feel confident of beating another Ryman Premier Side after disposing of Wingate & Finchley in the previous round.

Redbridge: Adam Rafis, Ryan Oliva (Billy Sendall 55), Tommy Spillane, Aarun Best, Glen Golby, Dan Trenkel, Ben Bradbury (Jamie Haywood 80), Lewis Dark, Mitchell Das (Ryan Murray 64), James Robinson, Nathan Gordon.

Click here for the post match interview with our first team coach Jody Brown.

Click here here to see David Horn's photos from the game.