Essex Senior League – Premier Division
Venue: Oakside
Attendance: 61
2021-22 Season: Match 66
Saturday 2 April 2022 – 3pm KO
Redbridge: Blue Shirts, Blue Shorts, Blue Socks
Enfield: Yellow Shirts, Yellow Shorts, Yellow Socks
Redbridge battle hard to complete good win against play-off rivals Enfield
Redbridge 3 – 1 Enfield
Match Report & Photos by Scott W [Twitter: @ScottMHC14]
The last month of the Essex Senior campaign started for me at Oakside with this important battle between Redbridge and visitors Enfield, with both sides very keen on grabbing that second-place which also carries with it a spot in the promotion/relegation play-off with a Step 4 side at the end of the month. Both teams had been in good form recently and Redbridge named George Martin between the goalposts, with a defence comprised of Bradley Bennett, Jack Roult and centre-backs Dean Hall (who recently made his 100th appearance for the club) and Nathan Okoye. The forward line was led by Michael Pindy, skipper James Barlow and Ibrahim Kehinde. Options from the sidelines included forwards Timothy Ogunrinde and Tony Martin, with midfielder Robbie Norris also named. Enfield had James Bransgrove in goal, with Jack Grosvenor and Tyler Corlett in central defence. Their attack was led by Louie Johnson, Kieran Bishop and Jeffrey Cobblah with player-boss Jamie Cureton in the ‘number ten’ role. Their bench included forwards Samrai Gebrai and Dwade James, defender George Essuman and midfielder Jack Cousins.
This match did not take long to get going as the hosts made the most of a promising start by grabbing the opening goal on two minutes. A good cross allowed an opportunistic header by forward Ibrahim Kehinde to nod home from close range at the far post. Enfield couldn’t really gather enough possession to restrict the rapid hosts’ forward line from creating chances in the first part of the match. Kehinde spurned another chance and the impressive Michael Pindy fired in a fine strike which commanding goalkeeper James Bransgrove did well to punch away from danger. After you factor in a spurned chance from twelve yards from Kehinde on eight minutes, you started to fear for the E’s if they conceded further goals at this point in proceedings.
That being said, they did hold firm, in no small part because of good positioning by their defence and profligate finishing by the home side, if you were being critical of the latter. As the half went on, the E’s did generate more chances alongside more possession, with midfielder Alex Warman thwarted by Redbridge custodian George Martin before he could prod the ball home. As the half drew near its conclusion, Enfield skipper Reece Conway had to receive lengthy treatment for a head injury after a tough challenge. Jamie Cureton’s side did keep the ball well and they forced some good clearances by a robust Motormen defence, led well by Nathan Okoye.
Half-Time: Redbridge 1 – 0 Enfield
The opening twenty minutes of the second-half was also affected by a few long stoppages as Redbridge skipper James Barlow landed awkwardly on the far side and had to be substituted after suffering a dislocated shoulder, we wish him a swift recovery. Tony Martin replaced him whilst Conway was also replaced early in the second half, with Jack Cousins coming in in midfield. The best chance early in the half came about for Redbridge after another run by Michael Pindy down the right side which found central midfielder Jerold Cobblah but he could only send his strike well over the woodwork.
With the match entering its latter stages, Enfield had a good chance from centre-back Tyler Corlett’s long throw, which found substitute Samrai Gebrai and his strike narrowly went wide. Redbridge re-took the lead & the initative on eighty minutes. A defensive howler allowed Kehinde to evade the visiting defence and nick the ball off Bransgrove who had come outside his area and Kehinde showed good awareness to find replacement Tony Martin who could pass the ball into an empty net. It really was an unfortunate moment for the E’s after all the battling they had done earlier in the game.
Buoyed on by their enthusiastic & vocal supporters, Enfield did push forward again and influential forward Samrai Gebrai made a good return from injury by scoring a fine goal five minutes later. A telling run down the right flank by the pacy Jeffrey Cobblah got the better of home full-back Jack Roult and Cobblah’s centre found Grebrai who controlled the ball well before firing past Martin into the right corner from just inside the box.
Despite dealing with a few nervy moments late on as Enfield went all-in for a ahother goal, Redbridge did get a crucial third goal well into added time. Another good run by Pindy down the left wing ended with a pinpoint cross finding Martin who headed home comfortably past Bransgrove to seal this important three points for George Christou’s team. Cobblah was sent off moments later as Enfield’s play-off charge was dented here.
Full-Time: Redbridge 3 – 1 Enfield
In summary, Redbridge did well to weather the storm in the second half and find another gear late on to complete an important win which does curtail the E’s chances of a top-two finish somewhat. Enfield were decentin their build-up play and defensively but couldn’t create a lot of good chances to test home stopper George Martin. George Christou’s side broke the deadlock early on and had they been more clinical, could have been two or three goals ahead.
There were several notable performances from both sides in this match. Firstly for victors Redbridge, I felt forward Michael Pindy had an excellent game and utilised his pace down the channels really well and put in good crosses as well being unfortunate not to score himself. Fellow forward Ibrahim Kehinde also tested the E’s backline well and took his goal well. Jerold Cobblah had a good game also in midfield, making several important passes and showing good work rate. Centre-back Nathan Okoye played well to shore up the home defence, making several good clearing interceptions.
For Enfield, forward Jeffrey Cobblah made a number of good darting runs down the flanks to stretch the Redbridge backline well at times. Fellow forward Kieran Bishop also posed a good threat to the opposition full-backs too and kept the Redbridge defence alert. Tyler Corlett had a good game in central defence and also had a few good moments in the opposition penalty box too. Alex Warman showed again his work rate and incisive passing too from central midfield but ultimately it wasn’t Enfield’s day here.
Best wishes to both sides for the remainder of the season.
Teams
Redbridge | Manager: George Christou | Assistant: Jack Toghli
Starting XI (Subs): 1 George Martin (GK), 2 Bradley Bennett, 3 Jack Roult, 5 Dean Hall, 6 Nathan Okoye, 4 Jerold Cobblah, 8 Jake Brocklebank, 7 Michael Pindy ( 12 Robbie Norris 90’+7), 18 Jack Chawner, 9 Ibrahim Kehinde (11 Timothy Ogunrinde 90’+5), 15 James Barlow (Capt) (16 Anthony Martin 58’)
Goal-scorers: Ibrahim Kehinde [2’], Tony Martin [80’ & 90’+4)
Booked: None | Subs Not Used: Hazelwood, Corderoy (GK)
Enfield | Player-Manager: Jamie Cureton | Assistants: Jim Duggan & Gary Hart
Starting XI (Subs): 1 James Bransgrove (GK), 7 Ryan Ramsay, 5 Jack Johnson (18 George Essuman 42’), 6 Jack Grosvenor, 21 Tyler Corlett, 4 Alex Warman, 8 Reece Conway (Capt) (16 Jack Cousins 47’), 10 Louie Johnson, , 9 Kieran Bishop, 25 Jamie Cureton (11 Samrai Gebrai 66’), 20 Jeffrey Cobblah
Goal-scorer: Samrai Gebrai [85’]
Booked: Ramsay, Essuman | Sent Off: Cobblah [90’+8] |
Subs Not Used: Luther, James
Referee: Tom Wyatt
Assistants: Spencer King & Charlie Duggins-Jones
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