Essex Senior League – Premier Division
Venue: Oakside
Attendance: TBC
2022-23 Season: Match 19
Friday 30th September 2022 – 8pm KO
Redbridge: Blue Shirts, Blue Shorts, Blue Socks
Clapton: White Shirts, White Shorts, Red Socks
Redbridge outclass Clapton to pick up big win at Oakside
Redbridge 6 – 0 Clapton
Match Report & Photos by Scott W [Twitter: @ScottMHC14]
The first match of the weekend saw a welcome return to Oakside for an interesting Essex Senior League clash between second-placed Redbridge, against second-bottom Clapton. The visitors were looking to recover from a heavy loss at Buckhurst Hill last weekend in the League, whereas George Christou’s team were looking to continue their terrific start to the campaign. The Motormen have a pretty settled squad at present, but there were a few changes here. Connor Wheatley had the goalkeeper’s jersey, behind a defence comprised of Brad Bennett, Simon Bamidele and centre-back pairing Joe Elliott and Nathan Okoye. Jake Brocklebank skippered the side, with Jack Chawner alongside him in central midfield. The forward line was made up of Solomon Ogunwomoju, Miles Peterkin and Michael Pindy, with support from the creative Samraj Gill. Tayo Olukolu and Tony Martin were among the options on the bench.
Clapton fielded Alex Reed in goal, with a back four of Abel Yohannes, Ridwan Euba, Richard Kulschewski and Josh Hayward. James Walkinshaw was skipper and played in an anchor midfield role. Sharn Quinn and Daniel Enguru were also in the midfield, with Victor Ferrini, George Onwusonye and Khyreece Smith-Reid making up the forward line. The match began a little later than planned in terrible rainy conditions but we certainly got a lively start to it, and not one Ross Weare’s side would have wanted.
With barely 75 seconds on the watch, a set-piece arrowed in Samraj Gill was half-cleared to the edge of the 18-yard box, and centre-back Joe Elliott fizzed home a fine strike into the left corner, with all the poise of a centre forward. That was just the start George Christou’s team would have wanted and it got better on 13 minutes. A neat move among the rapid forward line involving Gill and forward Solomon Ogunwomoju ended with Michael Pindy being well-placed to pounce from close range after evading his marker.
Clapton did venture forward occasionally, and from a set-piece of their own, they did have a glimmer at goal. Centre-back Josh Hayward got in at the back post but could only strike wide in a crowded six-yard area. The hosts were sprinting forward with considerable purpose and the forwards were linking up well, and gave the Tons backline another nervy moment with 20 minutes gone. Forward Miles Peterkin glided past his defender well but could only fire wide of Reed’s goal frame.
Redbridge did unsurprisingly make it three-nil just short of the half-hour as another fine move ended with Pindy unselfishly playing in Gill who curled home a super finish past the unfortunate Reed into the left corner. It could have been worse for the Tons as Peterkin could’ve had a hat-trick by this point, but Hayward did well with a fine tackle to deny the forward a likely goal. That being said, Peterkin did get on the score-sheet four minutes before the interval to effectively close out the contest.
Peterkin got in behind his marker, evaded another defender and fired home without any hesitation utilising fine technique in the conditions to make it four for the hosts and you had to feel for Clapton stopper Alex Reed, who didn’t really have a chance at stopping any of the goals thus far.
Half-Time: Redbridge 4 – 0 Clapton
As you might have surmised, the second half did drop off a bit in terms of tempo but the continuing inclement weather was also making the pitch somewhat slippery. Clapton did more time on the ball, and midfielder Sharn Quinn did look to get the ball forward to substitute forwards Djazton Vieira Mandica & Jermaine Baptiste, as well as Victor Ferrini. Midway into the second half, winger Max Murariu did well to break down the right flank and his fine cross found Ferrini but he couldn’t get in the right position to connect his header and test home stopper Connor Wheatley.
Again, Redbridge surged up the other end and made it five on 67 minutes. Substitute Tony Martin benefitted from more good build-up play and was in the right position at the right time to slot home confidently past Reed. The Clapton goalkeeper made one of several good saves with 14 minutes left as Gill sent in another good strike, which Reed dived full-length to sprawl over and parry away well.
Ultimately though, there was another goal that came in the closing moments as Martin again got past his marker and rounded Reed before coolly sliding the ball into the net to round off a good evening’s work for George Christou’s side and perhaps also showing the task that the Tons have to gather enough points to stay out of the bottom two.
Full-Time: Redbridge 6 – 0 Clapton
In summary, Redbridge were too strong in possession and made the most of it to score some classy goals and make this an unusually one-sided match. The Tons did have more ball time in the second half but they could only create a few half-chances which did not unduly trouble home stopper Connor Wheatley.
There were a number of great performances in this match. For Redbridge, forward Michael Pindy led the attack well and personified the difference between the sides, getting a good goal & an assist too. Creative midfielder Samraj Gill also had a really good game, with astute passing and a fine goal as well to add to his good evening’s work. Jake Brocklebank did well also in central midfield to build attacks well while forward Solomon Ogunwomoju remains an important part of the forward line for Redbridge, making several good runs down the left-side channel.
For Clapton, there were some good performances despite the scoreline. Centre-back Josh Hayward made several important clearances whilst under pressure and could have pinched a goal early on as well. Goalkeeper Alex Reed also made several good saves to keep his team in the match for longer while central midfielder Sharn Quinn also made some good forward passes and blasted a couple of decent strikes past the goal frame.
I’d like to wish both teams a good remainder of the season.
Teams:
Redbridge | Manager: George Christou | Assistant: Jack Toghli
Starting XI (Subs): 1 Connor Wheatley (GK), 2 Brad Bennett, 16 Simon Bamidele (3 Tayo Olukolu 56′), 4 Jake Brocklebank (Capt), 5 Joe Elliott, 6 Nathan Okoye, 8 Jack Chawner (15 Daniel Okah 65′), 20 Samraj Gill, 7 Michael Pindy (18 Reuben Campbell 65′), 9 Miles Peterkin (11 Tony Martin 56′) 10 Solomon Ogunwomoju (19 James Barlow 80′)
Goal-scorers: Joe Elliott [1′], Michael Pindy [13′], Samraj Gill [29′], Miles Peterkin [41′], Tony Martin [67′ & 88′]
Booked: None | Subs Not Used: None
Clapton | Manager: Ross Weare | Assistant: Jack Caten
Starting XI (Subs): 1 Alex Reed (GK), 12 Abel Yohannes (2 Clinton Shodiya 29′), 4 Josh Hayward 5 Richard Kulschewski (6 Sheldon Dight 75′), 3 Ridwan Euba, 13 James Walkinshaw (Capt), 8 Sharn Quinn, 11 Daniel Enguru (19 Djazton Vieira Mandica 46′), 9 George Onwusonye (15 Jermaine Baptiste 46′), 10 Victor Ferrini, 7 Khyreece Smith-Reid (14 Max Murariu 46′)
Booked: Vieira Mandica, Ferrini | Sub Not Used: None
Referee: Adekola Adeyemi
Assistants: Olabisi Omotosho & Martin Quinn
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