An inspired performance from teenage keeper Callum Chafer was instrumental in seeing Ryman North Redbridge through to the quarter finals of the county cup at Rookery Hill last night.

Time and time again Chafer, who has come through the Hornchurch FC youth set up, defied Rocks efforts with some stunning saves, while at the other end, two "yours, mine, whoops" moments gifted Joe Gent the goals which put the Motormen through.

After patched up Rocks had dominated the early stages, Redbridge took the lead on 35 minutes when Simon Peddie and Ben Wood dithered, allowing Gent to fire past a stranded Lukas Lidakevicius.

Chafer continued to defy the Rocks until five minutes into the second half when Rocks own teenage prodigy Darren PHILLIPS drilled home the equaliser.

If we expected the visitors to then cave in to constant Rocks pressure we had a rude awakening within a couple of minutes, as the Rocks defence again dithered, and Gent could hardly believe his luck as he stroked the ball into an empty net.

In the later stages Chafer continued to impress, with stunning saves to keep out George Craddock, Adam Yusuff and a thunderous point blank header from Phillips.

Then as the game moved into injury time Chafer was beaten twice. However Rocks were unable to cash in as a goalbound Phillips effort hit Kris Newby on the line, and right on the whistle Yusuff got the first touch in a challenge with Chafer only for a defender to get back to scramble the ball off the line.

Having put Southend United out with a stunning 2-0 win at Roots Hall in the previous round, the Motormen will go into their quarter final tie without fear, and carry the best wishes of everyone at Rookery Hill

Report courtesy of East Thurrock United