Redbridge 2 -1 Motorway Bridge

Chatham Town visited Redbridge FC in the FA Trophy Preliminary Round and came away the worst in a frankly disappointing game. Redbridge, or as they're also called, the artist formerly known as Ford United (they were the former Ford plant's works team and are still nicknamed The Motormen)went into the game with only one previous win all season, that being in the FA Cup Preliminary Round against lower league opposition. The Motormen, who ply their trade in our sister league, the Ryman 1 North, currently sit at the foot of the league, with just one draw and three league goals to their credit. They sacked their manager in the week, appointed another one who quit after two days, and then appointed the first sacked manager's assistant as the new gaffer in time for our visit. Lets be honest, this had banana skin written all over it, and given that we're a little frail of foot at the moment and our guide dog appears to have gone missing, we were always going to slip up. And we did.

The first half was a dire mess played out by two sides who smacked of desperation. Redbridge limited Chatham to hopeful hoofs and headers which neither Joe Fuller or Iche Ubemere really had a sniff at. When Chatham did rarely create, they were limited to some long range efforts, and a hopeful penalty shout. Redbridge did not much more at the other end, although Tedder had to make the save of the half to keep out a long range strike that caught a deflection.

Chatham started the second period all the brighter, and you couldn't help but think that if a Hamstrung Nick Hegley hadn't gone off at half time, some of the pressure could have been turned into some magic. But with the winger absent, Chatham worked hard to get round the back (John Barnes style) and did so frequently but lacked a cutting cross or finish. The best chance fell to the lively Brad Potter, who looked a threat as he always does at corners, his bullet header hitting the bar. You started to sense it wasn't to be Chatham's day, and it was no real suprise when the home side opened the scoring with a quick counter that found James Tedder wanting for position, a seemingly innocuous cross eluding him and finding a Redbrige player at the far post for 1-0. Tedder had been let off earlier in the half, when a scuffed punch fell kindly for a Redbridge forward who couldn't and didn't finish from six yards.

Redbrige added a second, again on the break and it was just their second effort on target of the half. At this point, Chatham rallied, and pulled one back in stoppage time through Lee Maksell after a goal mouth scramble where it appeared that Joe Fuller's earlier shot had cleared the line. Cat calls from the home fans for the final whistle were met with an onslaught from Chatham who frustratingly played with more purpose than they had in the rest of the game. We should start 1-0 down. We might then win.

Its starting to appear that we a desperately short of both an out and out striker, and a plan b. With just three subs today, our only option when chasing the game was a like for like swap of Restell for Ibemere, and a continuation of attempts to pass our way through a packed defence on a difficult pitch. The effort was there, but the final product lacking. We're clearly missing Danny Penny (whom I've only seen play once), but he is a player who can poach, playmake and most importantly test the keeper from range. In a game like today's you need a big man who they're not going to settle at keeping outside the box. He's out injured for a long time, and then will have to get fit again. Lee Barnett is playing, for free as with all of the side, at Corinthians in the Kent League. He is exactly the player we need, and is, as far as I know, highly regarded by the fans. Bring him back. 16 goals in 20 games in his debut season speaks for itself. Come back Barney.