Redbridge 2 Barkingside 1 (Essex Senior League)
Friday 19th January
Report by Scott Lanza / Photo by Philip Lindhurst
Barkingside must be sick of the sight of Calvin Poku because twice this season he has stuck in the final stages to claim vctory for the Motormen. Back in September Poku nudged home the winner in fortuitous circumstances to win the game 2-1 for Redbridge; on Friday he came off the bench and struck twice in the final two minutes to win the game for Redbridge and move them back to the top of the table.
Redbridge started the game brightly; Reside Coxi-Sebastfao sped down the left wing early on and it looked dangerous for a moment until the ball was finally cleared from danger. The hosts kept the pressure on and Michael Bottone had to head away a corner that fell to Brian Moses who volleyed the rebound over. Then a nice bit of skill from Lindisipho Mtyanda saw him turn his marker before delivering a cross that Moses just failed to connect with. Ryan Karrer also saved two efforts from Mtyanda as Barkingside soaked up the pressure.
Barkingside kept at their task, were eventually able to contain the Redbridge forwards and then had an effort themselves in the 29th minute when Ryan Imbert drilled a shot over. The Motormen responded instantly with Eljay Worrell’s cross being headed over by Moses. The ball was then back up the other end, reaching Imbert who stroked the ball beyond Lewis Greene to give Barkingside the lead.
Redbridge almost got back on level terms a moment later when Mtyanda ghosted his way into the box, received the ball, laid it off to Remi Nelson, but he scuffed his shot and it was easily saved by Karrar. Greene was also kept busy as Side mounted a couple of crosses and then a blistering shot by Roddy Lemba was tipped away by the Redbridge stopper.
The hosts came close to equalising in the closing stages of the half after Mtyanda struck a rebounded clearance, which clipped a Barkingside player, before clipping the top of the cross bar.
Redbridge had the first effort of the second period; Worrell found himself in a position to fire a shot which Karrer charged down. Greene was also called upon early in the half having to block an Imbert effort. Billy Golledge went close for Barkingside and then Coxi-Sebastfao drilled a shot that Karrer saved. It certainly was a bright start to the half as both teams took turns in attacking.
Barkingside then dug in, with Joseph Huston-Mendy putting in a last-ditch challenge to disposses Jacob Dingli. Redbridge were putting plenty of balls into the box but the Barkingside defence blocked, deflected and charged down everything that came their way. Karrer also cut out and then punched clear two free kick from Vinny Murphy.
Side also had the odd foray into the Redbridge box that needed Greene to be called upon. The first effort came from Lemba whose shot was fired straight at the Redbridge stopper. However Greene had to get down low to palm away a Garrett Kelly shot, after he had opened up the Redbridge defence after playing a one-two with Matheus Santos.
It was looking like it was not going to be Redbridge’s night after Dingli skied a shot over the cross bar. But then Barkingside were reduced to ten men after Jaydon Mitchell-Brown received his marching orders for a reckless challenge. There were only a few minutes for Redbridge to make that numerical advantage count and it was Poku that inflicted the damage. He levelled in the 88th minute after he struck a loose ball beyond Karrer. And then two minute later he was at it again when he reacted to another ball in the Barkingside box, firing it past Karrer to capture all three points that started mass celebrations from the Redbridge dug out as the zero points became the full quota in the space of two minutes.
The win returns Redbridge to the top of the table, while Barkingside remain closer to the relegation places, having put in a shift that perhaps suggests that they have enough in the locker to get out of it. They just need to stop conceding goals in the final minutes, whereas Redbridge seem to not know when they are beaten and keep going until the very end.
Redbridge: Lewis Greene, Courtney Homans, Eljay Worrell (Calvin Poku 82’), Remi Nelson, Vinny Murphy, Billy Golledge, Tambeson Eyong (Tommie Turner 27’), Shaun Harris, Lindisipho Mtyanda (Jacob Dingli 66’), Brian Moses, Reside Coxi-Sebastfao.
Scorer – Calvin Poku (88’, 90’)
Barkingside: Ryan Karrer, Akil Clarke (Bradley Joseph 60’), Aaron Hunwicks, David Etcheri, Joseph Huston-Mendy, Michael Bottone, Roddy Lemba, Kofi Billzy, Ryan Lambert (Jaydon Mitchell-Brown 64’), Garrett Kelly, Matheus Santos (Ricardo Bailey 82’).
Scorer – Ryan Imbert (32’)
