So Tuesday night saw me over at Oakside for a derby between Redbridge and Ilford in theEssex Senior League.
Redbridge had improved after their poor opening to the season with two wins and two draws after four defeats whilst for visitors Ilford this was only their fourth league game of the season although they had won two of the three played so far.
However as this was a derby form mattered not and both sides showed plenty of endeavour in the opening quarter of an hour of the match however neither keeper were tested thus far as the game remained goal less. A couple of minutes later Ilford went the closest to scoring when Elias Armar-Tackie got through after beating two players but drilled his shot just wide.
But on 21 minutes it was the hosts, with their first real effort on goal, take the lead as a free kickwhipped into the six yard box saw DJ Adelekan beat Ilford keeper Chris Clark to the ball and head home to send the Motormen into the lead. It was a lead that lasted only three minutes though as Ilford bounced straight back as a ball laid back to Sipho Mtyanda saw the striker place a shot into the bottom corner and this derby was all square once again.
As the game passed the half hour mark Armar-Tackie got through for the visitors but saw a defender get back well to block effort but nine minutes before the break he wasn’t to be denied, scoring a wonderful goal, as he curled a wonderful effort beyond keeper Jake Mernaga into the top corner, despite the best efforts from the keeper to keep it out with his outstretched left hand.
Ilford sensed more goals and looked to kill the game before the break and only more defensive blocks from the hosts denied Dan Jones this time round before another attack saw Armar-Tackie head wide from a deep cross to the back post.
Redbridge’s only real chance was their goal but a couple of minutes before half time then saw a dangerous free kick into the dangerzone find goal scorer DJ Adelekan but he could only flick his header across the area and out for a throw in but they were lucky not to concede a third right on half time as Ilford missed a golden chance to score when Armar-Tackie sent substitute Chris Stevens in the clear but he could only drag his finish horribly wide, meaning the Foxes only went into the break a goal ahead when it should of been more.
Half Time Redbridge 1 Ilford 2
The hosts, rather fortunate to still be in the game, set about using this to their advantage and came out well at the start of the second period and saw skipper Adam Hunt fire one just over the bar as they looked for a quick equaliser. And five minutes into the half they found it when a cross saw Stephen Good flick on for DJ Adelekan to bundle in at the back post for his and the hosts second of the evening as parity was restored yet again.
The game was now end to end stuff and it was hard to see who would get their noses in front although a moment of controversy came when Ilford forward Mtyanda looked like he was brought down by Redbridge defender Good as he was getting clear of the defender but the officials thought otherwise, much to Ilford’s dismay.
However with an hour gone the game remained all square and the next moment of note saw an Ilford free kick whipped off the line by the hosts and then the game switched straight down the other end and saw an effort hit straight at Clark in the Ilford goal. It was certainly a good derby this.
But then on 73 minutes Ilford managed to get their noses in front once again as a ball across goal was bundled home by Stevens, making up for his poor miss at the end of the first half, to restore the Foxes advantage in this pulsating derby. Redbridge skipper Hunt immediately whipped an effort a foot wide of Ilfords goal as they looked to restore parity again. The hosts had been good in this half however Mtyanda then struck an effort just wide for the visitors.
However with just under fifteen minutes left Ilford gained a big advantage when they were awarded a penalty after as keeper Mernaga brought down Jones and saw the keeper sent off as he was the last man. Skipper Hunt had to go in goal but could do nothing as Jones picked himself up to convert thespot kick and give Ilford a two goal cushion with an extra man.
To the hosts credit though they continued to fight and make life difficult for their opponents and were doing ok still despite the red card and DJ Adelekan almost converted a hosts corner for his hat-trick but saw his effort bounce just over the bar. However the hosts did win a penalty two minutes into stoppage time after the referee had originally given a free kick on the edge of the box, only to then consult his assistant and then change his mind and point to the spot. Lee Weemes stepped up to thump a powerful spot kick in via Clark’s hand but this was the last act as Ilford held on for the points in what was a cracking derby at Oakside.
Full Time Redbridge 3 Ilford 4
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