Essex Senior League – Premier Division
Venue: Oakside
Attendance: 73
2021-22 Season: Match 12
Tuesday 17th August 2021 – 7.45pm KO
Redbridge: Blue Shirts, Blue Shorts, Blue Socks
White Ensign: Red Shirts, Red Shorts, Red Socks
Redbridge club crest 
White Ensign club crest
Redbridge withstand late comeback from Ensign to claim win
Redbridge 3 – 2 White Ensign
Match Report & Photos by Scott W [Twitter: @ScottMHC14]
The midweek match this week saw me travel to Oakside for the first time this term to see Redbridge face Step 5 newcomers White Ensign in another Essex Senior encounter. George Christou’s Motormen were led in attack by a front three of skipper James Barlow, Abdishakur Farah and Tim Ogunrinde. Their defence was comprised of full-backs Brad Bennett and Jack Roult with Dean Hall and Craig Hall their centre-backs. Options on their bench included forward Ibrahim Kehinde, midfielder Jack Chawner, Jack Blackledge and Herman Mwanza. Ensign were looking to get their rhythm back and also a league result ahead of their FA Cup tie this coming weekend at Basildon Utd. They welcomed new recruit Frankie Worboyes in goal, with a backline of Charlie Buffin, captain Andrew George, Carl Conway and Courtney Justin. Both Skinners (Harry & Luke) were in the visitors’ midfield, with a forward line of Ayo Odukoya, Connor Barnby and Dominic Locke. Included on their substitute’s bench were midfielders Ollie Bell and Dylan Jones plus forward Zack Littlejohn.
As we got underway, there was little doubting the home side’s intent. Full-back Jack Roult was supporting his team’s forwards down the left flank and the visitors had a let-off after only three minutes as visiting goalkeeper Frankie Worboyes was caught off his line, but forunately for the visitors, Robbie Norris’ strike was blocked by a well-placed covering defender on the goal-line. Worboyes was in action again moments later, denying a good effort by Redbridge forward Abdishakur Farah. The home forward line was finding space in & around the Ensign 18-yard line by this point and the visitors also found it hard to clear their lines. Sure enough, the host did break the deadlock on eighteen minutes as a good run by forward Tim Ogunrinde weaved past his marker before firing home a good strike low into the right-sided corner, giving Worboyes little chance.
Ensign had to recover quickly and have a period of ball rentention but it was the Motormen who pushed forward again and doubled their advantage only five minutes later. Another enterprising run by jack Roult down the left channel ended with a fine centre which forward James Barlow rose well to and powered a header high into the net. It could’ve been worse for the uncharacteristically nervy Ensign defence as Norris blazed a spot-kick over the woodwork soon after for Redbridge. The first chance of note really for Brett Munyard’s side came just after the half-hour as a good set-piece by Dominic Locke found forward Ayo Odukoya who sent a good header narrowly wide of home custodian Joe Palmer’s goal. Odukoya to his credit was starting to test the home backline, as another darting run from the left flank on thirty-five minutes looked to be promising before a good interception by Redbridge midfielder Jake Brocklebank ended the potential oppurtunity.
Redbridge crucially got a third goal in added-time though another good cross into the box caused chaos in the visiting defence with Ogunrinde credited with the final touch from close-range. All in all, the visitors could have little complaints and they really needed to step it up after the break to prevent a bad loss here.
Half-Time: Redbridge 3 – 0 White Ensign
After the interval, the hosts had a decent start with Barlow forcing another save out of Worboyes early on, then minutes later h the Ensign stopper in action again, having to rush out to deny Farah low down by the forward’s feet. The visitors gradually found their rhythm though as their half progressed, led by the fired-up Odukoya. the physical forward let fly with a speculative strike from 30 yards from the left channel just before the hour which sent Palmer back to check his angles before narrowly fizzing wide. Ensign did reduce their arrears just after the hour as a fine pass by substitute Dylan Jones found Odukoya in space, before a fine run beat his marker for pace and finished low past Palmer.
Ensign were lifted by that breakthrough, and Odukoya sent in another good header from a good cross three minutes later, unfortunately for his team it was straight at Palmer. At this point, the tension of the home side were starting to build and that only got worse for the hosts on 70 minutes as Ensign scored again. It the visitors’ turn to make it difficult in the home penalty area before Luke Woodward got half a yard of space to slot home from close range.
Ensign had a setback with ten minutes left as replacement Dylan Jones had to be assisted off the pitch with what looked a serious leg injury, we wish him well in his recovery. Redbridge had a rare foray forward in the half with eight minutes to play, which ended up with substitute Jack Chawner’s low free-kick going just wide of Worboyes’ right-side post. It was Ensign’s turn to rue their luck with moments left as a fine header from just inside the 18-yard box by replacement Zack Littlejohn was ruled out by the assistant referee’s flag.
Full-Time: Redbridge 3 – 2 White Ensign
In summary, this was a entertaining match that could have ended up with the spoils shared. However, the hosts just about prevailed because of their grit and the manner of their performance in the first half. What will concern Ensign is their first-half showing here which was uncharacteristic for them in both attack & defence. After the break was much better from them and their journey to adjusting to this division will mean they have to improve defensively as a unit.
There were a number of good performances in this match. For Redbridge, the front three was led superbly by the rapid, quick-thinking forward Tim Ogunrinde who deserved his goals and caused no lack of problems down the left side for the visitors. Fellow forward Abdishakur Farah again had a good game too, linking up well and stretching the Ensign backline with pace and movement. Also, Shaun Harris had a good match in midfield, as did Jake Brocklebank, playing in an anchor midfield role here and he did well to break up opposition attacking moves well.
For Ensign, the stand-out performer was Ayo Odukoya in my view. The physical forward was impressive in holding off his markers, playing in team-mates and showing his own rapid pace down the channels plus he deserved his goal. Connor Barnby also was a good outlet running from deep for Munyard’s side. Centre-back Carl Conway was the pick of their defensively unit and Luke Skinner also kept battling in midfield despite being over-run at times by the pace of the hosts’ attacks.
I’d like to thank both teams for their assistance & wish them a good rest of the season.
Teams
Redbridge | Manager: George Christou | Assistant: Jack Toghli
Starting XI: 1 Joe Palmer (GK), 2 Brad Bennett, 3 Jack Roult (9 Ibrahim Kehinde 68′), 4 Jake Brocklebank, 5 Dean Hall, 6 Craig Hall, 7 Shaun Harris, 8 Robbie Norris (18 Jack Chawner 73′), 15 James Barlow (Capt), 10 Abdishakur Farah (12 Herman Mwanza 79′), 11 Tim Ogunrinde
Goal-scorers: Tim Ogunrinde [18, 45+1], James Barlow [23′]
Booked: Roult | Subs Not Used: Blackledge, Tullet
White Ensign | Manager: Brett Munyard | Assistant: Mark Healy
Starting XI: 1 Frankie Worboyes (GK), 2 Charlie Buffin, 5 Andrew George (Capt), 14 Carl Conway, 6 Courtney Justin, 4 Harry Skinner, (16 Zack Littlejohn 58′) 10 Luke Skinner, 19 Luke Woodward, 7 Dominic Locke (15 Dylan Jones 58′ who was replaced by 11 Ollie Bell 78′ because of injury), 9 Connor Barnby, 18 Ayo Odukoya
Goal-scorers: Ayo Odukoya [61′], Luke Woodward [70′]
Booked: Justin, Barnby, L Skinner, Bell (Sin-Bin) | Sub Not Used: Adams, Moyo
Referee: Tom Wyatt
Assistants: Martin Quinn & Albert Forbes
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