In tricky conditions, Soham began the New Year by extending their unbeaten run and moved up to second in the table with a 4-1 win at home to Redbridge

With the vast majority of the Ryman League again called off due to waterlogged pitches, this game was only given the go ahead at 2.30pm by the match officials after a large amount of work had taken place on the pitch, following heavy rain two hours before kick-off.
For the fourth consecutive game, Soham named an unchanged line-up for the visit of Redbridge, who had beaten the Greens 3-0 in the reverse fixture back in August.

The opening stages of the game saw play switch end to end as the two sides tried to adjust to the tricky conditions. The hosts were the first to have a shot at goal inside the opening minute however Stanley was denied by McCarthy at the near post from a corner, whilst shortly after, Harradine, on the turn, fired across goal and wide. Midway through the half, Redbridge felt they had a call for a penalty when Charge made his way into the area from the left, only to go down under a challenge from Gent, however these appeals were dismissed with Soham quickly breaking up field where Harradine found room inside the visitors’ area to square the ball for Stanley, but with the striker’s shot heading towards the bottom corner, the ball got held-up in the mud just in front of the goal line, before the defender came back and cleared. Soham were now beginning to adjust better and started to get on top as Harradine saw his shot saved by McCarthy, before the Greens opened up a two goal lead by scoring twice in three minutes.

The opening goal came after thirty-two minutes when Harradine played the ball over top of the defence for Luke Stanley to loop a shot over McCarthy and in under the bar. Harradine was again the provider three minutes later as he delivered a deep freekick into the area for Michael Simpson to rise and head under the keeper. Stanley nearly added to his tally five minutes before the break, however from Sharman’s pullback fired wide. Redbridge delivered a number of late balls into the Soham area, but the hosts defended well to restrict their visitors and not allow any shots at goal.

Soham enjoyed large parts of the play after the break as Abbs fired a shot over the bar early in the half before the Greens scored their third goal of the game in fairly comical circumstances! Harradine’s corner was cleared by the Motormen; Wood delivered the ball back into the area where Smith attempted to clear again but could only find Simpson who headed the ball into the six yard area, where it again managed to get stuck in the mud. Thomas again tried to clear but could only fire at Simpson, who had continued his run into the box, with the ball coming back off the Green’s Captain to trickle over the line. A minute later, Carlile had the visitors’ first meaning effort at goal, however at full stretch, Ordonez pushed away the midfielder’s strike from distance.
The Greens continued to press forward as Gent delivered a ball into the area for Harradine, but under pressure from two defenders, the attacker somehow put his effort wide of the near post. Abbs then placed his freekick over the bar, before McCabe combined with Stanley to make his way into the area only to place wide of the near post. Substitute Ben Sawyer headed at McCarthy before scoring the fourth of the game in the 71st minute when he found room in the area to head Wood’s left sided ball past the keeper. With ten minutes remaining, Ordonez made another diving save to push away Worrell’s shot from the edge of the area. Moments later, Davis exchanged passed with McCabe to receive the ball inside the area and get in a shot at target, however was denied his goal as, despite his shot beating McCarthy, it hit the unaware Bradbury on the line, with the ball diverting away from goal.

With four minutes remaining, The Motormen denied Soham a clean sheet by scoring a consolation goal when Smith laid a right sided ball off along to Eljay Worrell, who fired a shot under Ordonez from just inside the area

report by Soham Town Rangers F.C.