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THE FansFocus.Com SENIOR CUP |
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ETON MANOR
0 - 4 REDBRIDGE |
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Dean Holdsworth's Redbridge cruised
into the semi-finals of the FansFocus.Com Essex Senior Cup following
a 4-0 defeat of Essex Senior League side Eton Manor.
The former England 'B' International's side showed their superiority
over the team one league below them from the very start of the
match. In just the 3rd Minute, the Motormen were awarded a free-kick
mid-way inside Manor's half on the left and Leon Fisher passed the
ball short to Dave Collins who drilled a low cross into the goal
area. Nick Skelton then managed to get in front of his marker to
guide the ball past Andy Hall in the Braves' goal.
Redbridge nearly doubled their advantage in the 9th minute when Jeff
Hammond put the ball behind the Eton Manor defence for Leon Antoine
to latch onto. His snap-shot nearly got through Hall, but at the
second attempt he managed to keep the ball out.
The first half belonged to Redbridge, but as the half wore on Eton
Manor did start to push the defence back, with mainly long-range
efforts towards goal dealt with comfortably by custodian Tony
Tucker.
The 39th minute saw Redbridge gain the vital second goal. Hammond
took control of the ball on the right wing, and managed to get
enough space to cross the ball into the box. Antoine managed to
direct it into the bottom corner, giving Hall no chance.
Right on the stroke of half time, Nick Symons then managed to get
through the Manor defence and, with Hall coming out, chipped the
ball inches wide.
Eton Manor came out after the break looking to atone for their
first-half performance, and kept trying to push the Redbridge
defence further back but without too many problems for Tucker in the
visitors' goal. The away team, though, always looked dangerous on
the counter-attack.
The first test for them came in the 72nd minute. Skelton had been
adjudged to have fouled Anton Stevenson on the edge of the box and
the latter took the ensuing free kick. With the goalkeeper
committed, Collins nearly diverted the ball past him but,
fortunately for the Blues, it also went past the post for a corner.
Heading into the last minute Manor still pushed to gain a goal,
Tucker clearing the ball down field. Confusion between Hall and
Courtney McLean meant the ball was free for Jarred Small, who had
just come on as a substitute for Antoine, to roll into the unguarded
goal.
The scoring was subsequently completed deep into injury time when
Hammond was on-hand to slide-in another Fisher cross.
Eton Manor: Andy Hall, Courtney McLean, Jason Fox, Steve
Willis (C), Bradley Brotherton (Lee Smith, 46), Neil Barrett, Liam
Mulcare, Manley Brown (Barry Brotherton, 59), Anton Stevenson, Kunle
Adfoye, Liam Allen (Ray Coker, 67). Unused Substitutes: Chris
Barrett, Mark Odakayan.
Redbridge: Tony Tucker, Carl Bruce, Dave Collins (C), Nick
Symons, Nick Skelton, Stuart Williams, Aaron Gayle (Mitchell Hahn,
73), Billy Holland, Jeff Hammond, Leon Antoine (Jarred Small, 88),
Leon Fisher. Unused Substitutes: Rob Budd.
Bookings: Eton Manor: Brown (47, foul), Smith (79, unsporting
behaviour), Hall (92, unsporting behaviour. Redbridge: Gayle (54,
delaying the restart of play), Skelton (70, foul), Williams (79,
unsporting behaviour), Collins (79, dissent), Antoine (83,
unsporting behaviour).
Referee: Peter Wilson.
Assistant Referees: Stuart Franklin and Steve Connor.
Man of the Match: Leon Fisher (Redbridge) - Always an
attacking threat
and kept running right up to the last minute. Was involved in two of
the
visitors' goals to boot.
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