Redbridge caused a Essex Senior Cup upset at Roots Hall as goals from Billy Drake and Jay Knight defeated a youthful Blues seeing them progress through to play East Thurrock Unitedin Round Four.
The hosts fielded an Under 21 side as they looked to test out some of their young guns against a Redbridge side who had struggled this season in the Ryman North so perhaps saw this as an opportunity to realease the shackles somewhat without the pressures of league points to play for.
The first ten minutes yielded very little action but then on 11 minutes the visitors took a shock lead when winger Prince burst into the box on the left hand side and pulled a ball back forDrake to side foot home from close range. Blues 0 Redbridge 1.
The young hosts looked to respond and almost levelled two minutes later when a good jinking run from Jack Bridge saw him strike a left footed effort which came back off the inside of the post. The hosts continued to pressurise the Motermen’s defence and on 20 minutes went close again when a ball across the face of goal saw Freddie Gard stretch for it at the back post but could only divert his effort wide.
The hosts had another shot on target midway through the half which was straight at keeper Sargent and then the visitors saw a poked effort from range by Coxi-Sebartero sail inches over the bar as the Ryman side looked to hurt the Blues on the break. On the half hour mark the hosts had another good sight of goal but saw the effort well saved by Sargent as the Blues again put the visiting defence under serious pressure late on in the half but the Ryman North side stood firm and got to the break a goal ahead.
Half Time Southend United 0 Redbridge 1
The second half started with the Blues straight onto the front front foot but were unable to really test keeper Sargent and then saw the visitors hit a long range effort over from Kabashi six minutes into the half as the visitors still looked dangerous when they did come forward. Minutes later the hosts attacked again but saw Jason Williams drag a woeful effort well wide.
Just past the hour mark another swift Blues attack saw the ever alert Sargent pluck a low cross out of air to thwart the hosts once again and then a few minutes later another Southend attack saw Williams cut inside before striking an effort straight at Sargent again. The visitors then made a change, bringing on Ditkevius, and he almost doubled their lead when he hit a decent effort just over Ted Smith’s bar from the edge of the box.
With twenty minutes to go the hosts won a free kick in a decent position outside the box but Bridge couldn’t find the target as the effort flew just over for the hosts and then the visiting side almost doubled their advantage when Knight found himself clean through but his effort was well saved by Smith before the rebound was struck well wide by Drake.
As we entered the last fifteen minutes the Blues had a great chance to level when a long ball found Williams whose wonderful first touch gave him a great chance to score but his effort was brilliantly saved by Redbridge keeper Sargent before four minutes later the hosts got into another decent shooting position but Bridge again missed the target.
Into the last ten minutes and Redbridge won a free kick outside the hosts area and saw Prince’sfree kick tipped over by blues stopper Smith. With three minutes to go the Blues created one more chance when a cross from the right saw a defensive header loop up into the air and then come down inside the six yard box where Williams could only head wide before the hosts sliced another one wide soon after.
Redbridge had done really well to dig in and compete and make life difficult for the young Blues line up whilst still possessing a threat up front and knew they had just two minutes of stoppage time to survive but with literally the last kick of game Knight controlled a high looping ball inside the box before swivelling to turn his marker and striking the ball past Smith and sealing the tie as the whistle blew for full time whilst the Ryman North side celebrated the goal. A great win for Redbridge which could well kick start there season finally.
Full Time Southend United 0 Redbridge 2
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