Redbridge3 West Essex 1 (Essex Senior League)

Liam Thomas was a hat-trick hero as his second half prowess in front of goal helped the Motormen overturn West Essex’s 1-0 half time lead to win the game and extend Redbridge’s grip on the leadership.

Eljay Worrell spurned an early chance when Martin Tuohys flick reached him unmarked but he fired wide. It became a double whammy as West Essex took the lead in the 5^th minute when Joe Lefley reacted to a blocked shot by firing home the rebound.

The visitors had good possession after going a goal up whereas the Motormen’s engine wasn’t yet fired up. A Patrick Duggan shot from distance was the only effort that Redbridge offered up in the opening 15 minutes. Hutchinson then played in Poku but the West keeper rushed off his line and claimed the ball at the Redbridge talisman’s feet. Lewis Greene had to punch away a corner in the 21^st minute and then a minute later Poku was laid off by Hutchinson but could only rifle his shot wide.

West Essex went close with a Tom Woodbridge drive from the left side of the box while a Worrell free kick floated towards the West Essex goal before being headed away. On the half hour the Motormen won two corners in quick succession with the second one being headed wide by Liam Thomas. Worrell then dragged one wide in the 35^th minute.  Redbridge were firing blanks, in fact they didn’t create any clear cut chances until the 37^th minute when a fine Worrell free kick was met by the head of Jonathon Mbamarah but ended up wide. West Essex defended in numbers which was another reason why Redbridge were unable to penetrate, with Nick Walk and Josh French  being particularly adept at clearing the lines.

Hutchinson placed a ball through the middle early in the second half but it was maybe a bit too hit as it ran beyond the Redbridge forwards and was collected by Dan Russell. West Essex’s first chance of the half came when a cross from the right flank was headed over by Tom Macleod.

However Redbridge were level in the 57^th minute when a Homans free kick was flicked on to Moses whose shot was blocked and in the ensuing melee Liam Thomas was able to swing a leg  and poke the ball home.

And just as buses sometimes come in twos so did Redbridge’s second goal which came a mere three minutes later; a Worrell free kick from the left was divrted past Russell by Thomas.

Brad Russell’s low free kick needed Lewis Greene to get down low to claim and then a series of West Essex corners kept the pressure on without truyl threatening the Redbridge goal. But the Motormen were looking a lot more settled than they had in the first half and Martin Tuohy sent over a nice cross from the right that Josh French did well to clear. But Duggan then showed some good defending stopping a West Essex attack . Woodbridge’s clever back heel was picked up by Lefley but Duggan put in a great sliding tackle to gain possession of the ball and remove the danger.

Moses went close when he connected with a Dingli cross but the ball drifted wide. Worrell’s corner towards the end of the game had to be hooked clear by a West Essex defender. Redbride were looking to get onother goal to make sure of the three points and it looked like they had created a great opening when Dingli was bursting through on goal, but he was then was taken out by Russell which resulted in the keeper getting his marching orders allowing Liam Thomas to complete his hat-trick by converting the penalty.

There was enough time for Nick Walk to hit a shot from distance that crashed against the Redbridge post and the stand-in keeper did well to save a Dingli shot. The full time whistle saw celebrations from the Redbridge players and bench as they had been made to work hard by a very spirited West Essex side.

Redbridge: Lewis Greene, Courtney Homans, Marcus Carter, Shaun Harris, Liam Thomas, Jonathon Mbamarah, Joshua Hutchinson (Brian Moses 49’), Patrick Duggan, Martin Tuohy (Phillip Brown-Bamfpoe 76’), Calvin Poku (Jacob Dingli 68’), Eljay Worrell (Capt).

Scorer – Liam Thomas (57’, 60’, 90’p)

West Essex: Dan Russell, Sanchez Hardy, Jayvon Jarrett-Case (Tanvir Ahmed 80’), Tom MacLeod (Capt), Nick Walk, Josh French, James Bromley (Isaac Marfo 54’), Brad Russell, Tom Woodbridge (Kofi Appiah 61’), Joe Lefley, Fatos Zeqiri.

Scorer – Joe Lefley (5’)