Tuesday 8th December 2009, Weston Homes Community Stadium, Kick-off 7:45pm, Essex Senior Cup supported by BBC Essex Fourth Round.
Colchester United overcame gallant Ryman League Division One North side Redbridge in this Senior Cup fixture, which had switched venues due to the Motormen’s pitch being declared unfit on Monday.
The Motormen were caught on their heels early on, and United took advantage with two goals in the first 20 minutes. In the first attack of the match, good play down the right wing ended with Conor McCloskey reaching the goal line. He stood a ball up, missing out the goalkeeper, and Jordan Pavett had a free header into the unguarded net.
Colchester pushed for a second goal, and it came on 16 minutes. They worked their way towards the box and a free kick was given, which Redbridge contested. Joel Thomas got back to his feet and struck the ball into the goalkeeper’s bottom corner. United had always looked the more dangerous of the teams, but the visitors grew into the fixture and managed to stop United increasing their advantage before half time.
Colchester’s re-shuffle of their personnel at the start of the second half didn’t halt their attacking efforts. Firstly, Alan Maybury controlled a Redbridge clearance and, from about 20 yards out, just missed the near upright. Then Danny Batth came closer following a corner, his header being cleared off the line by a Motormen defender.
Redbridge had their moments and Alex Read nearly managed to get clear of the U’s defence, but an opponent just managed to get in front of him as he was about to shoot. Then, on 70 minutes, it was game on. Read managed to get clear of the defence in the left channel. He pushed towards the goal line, and pulled the ball back into an area where Leon Diaczuk was attacking. He shot calmly past Cousins in the United goal.
Redbridge pushed for the equaliser to take the match into extra time but this left a few gaps in their defence and it looked like Craig Arnott would make sure of the result as, on 84 minutes, he was one-on-one with the Redbridge ‘keeper. However, Mason Durrell managed to get something on the shot to deflect it for a corner.
Two minutes later, Arnott ensured Colchester’s name made it into the quarter-final draw after Pavett played the ball through the Redbridge defence and managed to place it past the on-rushing Durrell. Redbridge put-up a good performance, but it was the Coca-Cola League One side who progressed to the next round.
Redbridge: Mason Durrell, Sonny Adams, Mo Habu, George Alder, Simon Peddie, Leon Diaczuk, Harry Oniha (Kenny Kennedy, 76), Julian Ashby, Charles Georgiou (Ade Cole, 63), Bradley Ross (Alex Read, 53), Matt Gillingham. Unused Substitutes: John Chipperfield, Thomas Laxton.
Colchester United: Mark Cousins, Alan Maybury, Tom Bender, Louis O’Sullivan, Matt Heath, Danny Batth, Matt Lockwood (Craig Arnott, 46), Medy Elito, Conor McCloskey (Jordan Sanderson, 63), Jordan Pavett, Joel Thomas (Jordan Lartey, 54). Unused Substitutes: Shane Cusack, John Glowacki.
Bookings: Redbridge: Ashby (29, unsporting behaviour). Colchester: Thomas (27, unsporting behaviour), Bender (45, unsporting behaviour).
Referee: Mark Tweed (London).
Assistant Referees: Adrian Oldershaw (Brentwood) and Michael Cottee (Hornchurch).
Man of the Match: Matt Heath (Colchester United): Commanded the Colchester defence, which gave the platform for the rest of the team to perform.