Essex Senior League
Venue: Oakside
Attendance: 59
2017-18 Season – Match 44
Friday 8th December 2017 7.45pm KO
Redbridge: Blue Shirts, Blue Shorts, Blue Socks
Woodford Town: Yellow Shirts, White Shorts, White Socks
Scott W reporting (Twitter: @ScottMHC14)
On a chilly evening at Oakside, leaders Redbridge welcomed mid-table Woodford Town in another Essex Senior League encounter. The Motormen were led by Brian Moses and Calvin Poku in attack, with Reside Coxi-Sebastfao on the left flank, who scored a hat-trick against the same opponents earlier in the season. Woodford’s forward line was led by livewire Larry Asare and Ethan Kessel.
Pre-match, one or two may well have had Redbridge down to win this fixture convincingly though as it turned out, it wasn’t quite that. The visitors did start proceedings fairly well as they made sure the Motormen defence were alert with a couple of near-misses. Twelve minutes in, a powerful drive from Town forward Larry Asare was well-saved by home goalkeeper Lewis Greene.
Redbridge couldn’t really get going at their best going forward though Brian Moses and winger Reside Coxi-Sebastfao spurned half-chances. On 34 minutes, arguably against the run of play, the hosts took the lead as from skipper Eljay Worrell’s corner, Moses headed home past visiting stopper Nick Wilson. It stayed that way at the break, with the visitors still well in the match and were arguably unfortunate to be behind, although they couldn’t find that telling final ball to breach the home defence.
Half-Time: Redbridge 1 – 0 Woodford Town
A minute into the second half, Asare struck an effort wide as Town were looking to level. Their chances took a knock when Dion Lewis-Kirwan was dismissed for a second booking six minutes after the interval. Just past the hour mark, the hosts nearly doubled their lead as Moses ghosted past several Woodford defenders but couldn’t find the finish. Although they found it tougher with ten men, the visitors still put the ‘hard yards’ in, particularly at the back with Town skipper Jack Grosvenor making a number of good challenges.
Into the last 20 minutes or so, and Moses & midfielder Shaun Harris had efforts that couldn’t find the target. Town defender Grosvenor denied Redbridge substitute Jacob Dingli a icertain goal with a good goal-line clearance with 15 minutes left. Soon after, Town had a goal chalked off for off-side and their frustrations were evident by this stage. Dingli was denied late on by Wilson as the striker was one-on-one with the Town ‘keeper.
Redbridge sealed the points in added-time as Wilson had denied an initial attack though Moses grabbed his second with a low curling effort into the right corner. They say ‘It doesn’t matter how you win, just that you do’ and on this occasion, Ricky Eaton & Joey May’s side did exactly that without being at their best, not that they will mind much as this was their 8th straight league win. Woodford should take some solace though from their performance here as in phases, they played well and made it difficult for the league leaders.
Full-Time: Redbridge 2 – 0 Woodford Town
Teams
Redbridge
Lewis Greene (GK), Courtney Homans, Eljay Worrell (Capt.), Shaun Harris, Liam Thomas, Jonathon Mbamarah, Tommie Turner, (Thomas Gogo 61′) Patrick Duggan, Calvin Poku (Jacob Dingli 61′) Brian Moses, Reside Coxi-Sebastfao
Goal-Scorers: Brian Moses [34′ & 90’+2]
Subs Not Used: Toussaint, Nelson & Brown-Bamfpoe | Booked: Worrell, Harris
Woodford Town (in estimated position order)
Nick Wilson (GK), Leon Wildman, Ola Ogunwamide, James Walkinshaw, Jack Grosvenor (Capt), Dion Lewis-Kirwan, Gamal Nfodjo, Ryley Scott (Yusuf Topal 83′), Andre Bennett (Djazton Mandica 63′), Ethan Kessel, Larry Asare (De’Juane Taylor-Crossdale 70′)
Subs Not Used: Lefevre, Abdul | Booked: Wildman
| Sent Off: Lewis-Kirwan [51′ – second booking]
Referee: Ede Eruero
Assistant Referees: Michael Iddenden-Smith & Charlie Roberts
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