Potters started the game well. Their no.10 Tom Pett was looking dangerous from the start and he had the game’s first opportunity of the game shooting wide after good work from Louis Collins. Redbridge though went straight down the other end and after five minutes played but for a brilliant save would have taken the lead.

Ryan Murray is quickly becoming one of the best headers of a ball in the Ryman League North, so much so that when a cross comes into the area at ‘heading level’ that you expect him to score or at least force the opposition keeper into a save. Glen Golby’s cross into the area fell right into the forward’s path and he headed it true and hard seemingly into the bottom corner only for Matt Bennett somehow in goal to tip the ball out where it was cleared away to safety.

It was end to end stuff as after Collins fired wide, a Ben Bradbury delivery into the box from a freekick was just out of reach for three Redbridge players running in on goal. A long ball from defence by the hosts was flicked on by Nathan Gordon who had come in from his wing to the pacey Joe Gardner up front.

The nifty forward beat his marker to the ball and unleashed a powerful shot from the edge of the box which seemed destined to go into the top corner of the net. Again though Bennett was on hand to thwart the Motormen tipping the drive over the bar to the annoyance of Redbridge’s coaching staff who couldn’t believe the keeper had got to the ball, nor could Gardner.

The half ended with Ashley Harrison-Barker being booked for diving inside the area trying to win a penalty for the visitors, going down weakly in the box before Golby leant into win the ball. It was the correct decision by referee who blew to book the winger seconds after he
went down.

HT Redbridge 0 Potters Bar 0

Potters started the second half well with Pett having a drive from the area saved by Adam Rafis in goal. Despite Redbridge’s best efforts the visitors were beginning to dominate the game and were pressing well further up the pitch giving the hosts at times no option other than to hit the long ball.

Terry Spillane’s first chance of the night was bringing on Shane Stamp for Stuart Hepburn. Stamp was making only his second appearance since breaking his jaw in Redbridge’s 2-1 win away to Cockfosters in the FA Cup last month.

It was a good positive substitution but Potters were still controlling the ball and just after the hour they went ahead.
Good pressing in midfield from the visitors won the ball 40 yards from goal and a quick move ended with Pett on the edge of the 18-yard crossing the ball into the area for Matt Clifford to bundle home on the line.

After that the visitors held firm with Redbridge creating only one real clear-cut chance to equalise 20 minutes from time when Gordon’s cross into the area found Gardner who was denied by a good reaction save from Bennett with Gordon shooting the ball across goal from a tight angle.

After Stamp was fortunate to have remained on the pitch after colliding with Collins when he was through on goal – only getting booked when he was the last man – the visitors sealed the game 10 minutes from time when Pett stroked in a shot in off the post from the edge of the area.

Overall though it was a disappointing defeat for Redbridge who had the chance to climb into the play-off places had they won the match. However they have a chance to bounce back this coming weekend when they host Dunstable Town in what will be a tense Third Qualifying Round FA Cup tie at the Oakside. They have the ability and class to bounce back, let’s hope they can do just that.

Redbridge: Adam Rafis, Stuart Hepburn (Shane Stamp 59), Jamie Haywood (Luke Wilson 84), Jonathan Wheatstone, Glen Golby, Dan Trenkel, Ben Bradbury, Danny Hopkins, Ryan Murray, Joe Gardner, Nathan Gordon.

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