Redbridge 2 Enfield 2

Essex Senior League Premier Division, Tuesday 19th February 2019

Jordan William netted a stoppage time leveller as Enfield rescued a point at Oakside against Redbridge in what was an eventful encounter in the Essex Senior League Premier Division.

The hosts were straight on the front foot from the off and saw Kai Heather get into a good position but slice well wide, and after Enfield had dragged wide at the other end, Heather again saw another effort sliced wide of the visitor’s goal.

Dan Gilchrist then fired an effort at goal for the hosts but Jamie Merrells fielded the ball well, and Gilchrist went close again, thumping an effort across goal and seeing it hit a defender before the ball diverted into Merrells hands.

Jimmy Cox then broke forward for the visitors but got his finish all wrong and saw the ball end up bouncing into Michael Gooch’s hands, before Stephen Ellery sent a shot at goal for the visitors but it was straight at Gooch.

Taylor Tombides then saw an effort towards the visitor’s goal go straight at Merrells, before a great ball into the Enfield area almost found Tombides, but Merrells just got to the ball first to punch the ball clear, leaving both needing treatment after they crashed into each other.

The Motormen then should have taken the lead when after a mess up at the back the loose ball fell to Tombides who sent an effort at goal and it was going in until it touched a Redbridge leg on the goal-line and saw the flag go up for offside, ruling that one out.

That was then compounded moments later as Enfield grabbed the lead five minutes before the break when Ernold Haxhiu was played in and he rounded keeper Gooch before eventually playing a ball across goal to Cox who tapped home.

Ben Bradbury so nearly doubled the visitors lead soon after by almost getting onto a ball forward, but Gooch came out of his goal to clear, then down the other end Gilchrist ballooned over from a great position.

And just before the break Heather sent a free-kick at the visitor’s goal which bounced up and almost caught out Merrells who beat away the set-play, before centre-half Joe Maskell then skied over an effort for the hosts soon after, and it meant the visitors went into the break a goal ahead.

Half Time Redbridge 0 Enfield 1

Enfield went so close to doubling their lead early on in the second period when after a defender had headed a ball against an opponent and seen the ball go inches wide, Haxhiu then saw a brilliant effort force a terrific save from Gooch.

And it proved important as moments later in the 48^th minute Redbridge levelled as a cross into the box saw Tombides head home from close range, and we were all tied up in this contest.

A wonderful ball from Tombides released Gilchrist in on goal for the hosts, but Merrells was equal to it to make the save, before Enfield went close again as a ball headed across goal by Joe Johnson was blocked before Mark Frostick, on as a substitute, fired wide from range.

But twenty minutes into the second period The Motormen grabbed the lead as Gilchrist got in and this time managed to slot beyond Merrells to give his side the advantage in this one, and it was almost three when the same man had sight of goal again, but the effort was well blocked this time.

Heather then struck wide for the home side as they were now really cranking up the pressure on the visitors, especially since they had taken the lead, and Enfield were really having to dig deep to stay in the contest.

The hosts saw a further chance slip by when substitute Petrit Elbi lifted over, and after Enfield messed up a break-away, Elbi dragged wide for the hosts down the other end before he almost got in again but Merrells thwarted him, and then Gilchrist had another chance but fired off target.  Redbridge had missed a hatful of chances and should have probably put this one to bed by now.

Mason Page, another visitors substitute, went so close to levelling but saw his point-blank effort saved by Gooch, before he then dragged wide moments later, but in the 93^rd minute and after Gooch had made a brilliant save, the loose ball was slammed home by another substitute William and the visitors had levelled.

Heather then almost won it for the hosts but saw his effort skied way over, before Enfield nearly won it eight minutes into stoppage time when they somehow headed wide from close range, but after ten minutes of added on time the referee blew the contest to a close and it finished all square.  Phew!!!

Full Time Redbridge 2 Enfield 2