The first of three games this weekend for myself started with an Essex Senior League derby at Cricklefield between Barkingside and Redbridge on Friday evening.
This is always an interesting fixture given the sides used to share Oakside until Barkingside left under a cloud a few years ago so the rivalry between the sides is well known.
Both sides are looking to finish the the upper echelons of the division and both were in decent form of late so a decent competitive contest was expected here.
The opening exchanges were lively as both teams had half chances but the first clear cut chance arrived on the quarter hour mark as a one two between Michael Ogboin and Jason Fontaine saw the former in for the hosts however Redbridge keeper Lewis Greene managed to save the effort.
Five minutes later Redbridge almost gifted the hosts the lead when a pass out of defence saw the ball go straight to Matheus Santos but he could not get the ball under control and saw it go to Ogboin who was offside and his effort was wide of the mark in any case. It was a let off for the visitors though.
The next ten minutes saw plenty of attacking intent from both sides but neither keeper was tested in the period though but no doubt the hosts would of been the happier thus far.
However they almost fell behind in the 33rd minute when Redbridge forward Brian Moses shrugged off a defender to give himself a sight of goal but saw his effort hit the bar and go over and then six minutes later Redbridge went close again when Calvin Poku volleyed wide after a corner came out to him on the edge of the box.
However this competitive derby remained goalless at the break despite plenty of attacking intent from both sides they were lacking an end product thus far.
Three minutes into the second half Redbridge saw a deflected Moses effort tipped wide by Will Hunt but from the resulting corner the visitors took the lead when after Hunt had made a terrific save, Shaun Harris managed to bundle the ball home from close range and gave this game the goal it needed.
Redbridge probably should of doubled their lead just before the hour mark when Moses burst through into the box but saw his effort saved by Hunt and then midway through the half the hosts found an equaliser from nowhere when a mishit shot across goal found Ogboin who slotted home from close range.
Side were now looking dangerous and so nearly took the lead in the 73rd minute when substitute Tony Cookey was denied from inside the box by a cracking save from Greene, and with seven minutes remaining it was Redbridge's turn to spurn a decent opportunity when a ball across found substitute Courtney Homans in space but his effort flew over the bar.
However this game was to be decided a minute later in fortuitous circumstances when a Barkingside defensive clearance from inside their own six yard box thumped against Poku's leg and ended up in the hosts net. The former Side forward knew nothing about it but didnt care one jot as him and his teammates ran off to celebrate and it proved enough for the visitors to take the points here.
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