Thamesmead Town 0-2 Redbridge

Monday 3rd January 2011
Ryman League Division One North
Thamesmead Town 0-2 Redbridge
2011 kicks off with defeat

Robert Smith reports
Two goals inside the final 13 minutes saw Mead begin 2011 in defeat and give new Redbridge Manager and former Colchester United Coach Jodie Brown a winning start in his first game in charge. In his programme notes Mead boss Keith McMahon described Ashley Probets as one of the best deliverers of the ball in the Ryman League North and this was evident inside the opening 20 minutes as twice he put in tantalising crosses that found Andy Constable whose headers threatened the Redbridge goal. Another deep ball from Probets was hacked off the line by a Redbridge defender. Despite this it was the visitors who looked the most likely to find the net during the first 45 minutes. Former Everton player Kevin McLeod was pulling the strings in midfield and his sublime pass released Shane Stamp whose effort brushed the legs of the onrushing keeper Sam Mott and this was enough to see the ball divert away from the goal. The impressive Stamp then evaded two Mead challenges and cut in towards goal only for Callum McGeehan to rescue Mead and thwart the danger with his head. But Redbridge's best opening came 5 minutes before the interval, Julian Ashby played in Hyun-Jin-Lee and with Mott committed the Korean wastefully drilled the ball across the face of the goal when a squared ball to the unmarked Julian Edwards seemed the better option. Redbridge began the second half in the same vain, Mead failed to pick up a McLeod free kick which Mott scooped away, the classy McLeod then sprayed the ball wide to Edwards who forced a good save by Mott. For next 20 minutes Mead took a stranglehold on the game, a slick move forward resulted in Raphael Momodu teeing up Scot Mulholland whose strike cannoned back off the post. McGeehan then swept the ball forward to send Gabs Momodu bursting forward he unselfishlylaid on substitute Sol-Patterson-Bohner who cut past his marker only to be denied by the legs of Elliot Justham. Directly from this attack Redbridge powered forward and with Mead failingto cut out a supply on the left flank Jin-Lee capitalised rifled the ball home on 77 minutes. The home side failed to be detured by this set back and instantly set about getting the equaliser. McGeehan was desperately unlucky as his thunderous strike was foiled by Justham. Moments later Probets paved an opening for Bohner, his trickery was too much for his two markers and produced a clever turn only for his goalbound strike to thwarted by the legs of Justham. But as they did with the first goal again very much against the run of play the men from Essex again found the net and sealed maximum points 9 minutes from time with the ever busy McLeod the man on target.