SOUTH: Murray shines as Motormen win again

By Jeremy Hill

Sutton United 2 (Vansittart 39, Watkins 58)
Redbridge 3 (Murray 28, Poole 55, Y Lewis 83)

Substitute Jay Murray scored a goal and set up the other two as Redbridge earned their second successive league win at Gander Green Lane.

The Motormen made two changes from the side that beat St Albans City on Tuesday, with the on-loan Ashley Harrison replacing the departed Alex O'Reilly in goal and striker Deji Davies in for the injured Liam Francis.

There was very little between the sides in the early stages. A clash of heads between Davies and U's centre back John Scarborough left both players needing treatment and the Sutton man playing the rest of the match with a bandaged head.

In the 10th minute, impressive U's left back Eddie Akuamoah set Evren Arkali free down the left hand side. Arkali beat Kevin Stephens and crossed dangerously across the Redbridge box with striker Craig Watkins only inches away from making contact.

A minute later, Craig Edwards made space for himself with a neat turn and ran at the Sutton defence before unleashing a shot from 25 yards that flew over Phil Wilson's bar.

Sutton had an excellent chance to open the scoring in the 17th minute when skipper Scott Corbett threaded a ball through to Joff Vansittart who rounded Harrison, only to see his shot cleared off the line by Stephens.

Four minutes later at the other end, just after Jay Murray replaced the injured Elis Remy, Glenn Poole fed Stephens on the right hand side who in turn release the overlapping Alex Fiddes. Fiddes put in a testing cross that was well-cut out by Wilson with Redbridge strikers Davies and Murray bearing down on goal.

Sutton continued to get the ball into the danger area. In the 24th minute Corbett again released Akuamoah who curled in a cross from the left that caused mayhem in the Redbridge area for a few moments before Halle managed to clear. Watkins and Vansittart exchanged passes before Watkins dinked a cross to the back post towards the advancing Lewis Gonsalves but McLeod managed to head clear.

The Motormen broke the deadlock in the 28th minute. Murray picked up the ball midway into the Sutton half and laid off to the advancing Stephens on the right hand side. Stephens carried the ball for a few yards before his cross found its way to Murray who slotted past Wilson to his right.

In the 35th minutes Sutton nearly capitalised on a slip by Harrison. A dangerous cross from Matt Gray was dropped by the keeper but he was relieved to see the ball fortunately pop back into his hands with Watkins and Vansittart closing in.

The home crowd seemed to be getting frustrated with their side as Redbridge continued to carve out opportunities. A Greg Lincoln through-ball was headed fractionally wide by U's Stuart Booth and from the resulting Poole corner an unmarked Davies headed just wide.

The Motormen's good work in the first half was undone in the 39th minute when a needless free kick was conceded on the right hand side. Peter Fear lofted a deep cross in and an unmarked Vansittart rose above the Redbridge defence to head past Harrison and silence his critics within the home faithful.

Three minutes into the second half Davies was fouled by Scarborough 20 yards from the U's goal. Centre half Chris Perkins surprisingly stepped up to fire just over the bar.

Sutton impressed early on, particularly during a 5 minute passage of play in which they moved the ball around the field with great aplomb.

Unfortunately for the U's this passage of play was cut short by a Redbridge goal from Poole. A good build up from the Motormen resulted in Murray feeding the ball to Poole inside the Sutton penalty area. He sidestepped one defender and side footed past Wilson.

Sutton got their just desserts for their earlier good play when they equalised three minutes later. Watkins latched on to a long clearance from Wilson and used his pace to sprint clear of the Redbridge defence to score past Harrison.

Both sides knew that the game was now in the balance and there for the taking. Alex Fiddes nearly capped off a quick break with a goal but his shot was fired straight at the keeper, whilst Lincoln followed suit 2 minutes later after a scuffed clearance from Gray.

At the other end Vansittart shot narrowly wide of Harrison's goal after a slip in the Redbridge defence following a dangerous run by Watkins.

Another flowing move from the Motormen resulted in an Edwards cross-come-shot being cleared in unorthodox fashion by Wilson's legs with substitute Yohance Lewis and Murray in close proximity.

A minute later Poole and Murray exchanged passes and Poole's teasing cross was well cleared by Gray under pressure in his own penalty area.

Redbridge clinched a well deserved winner in the 83rd minute with a move that started with Harrison. Instead of playing the ball long, Harrison threw the ball out to McLeod who after running to half way set Murray free on the left. Murray's cross was met by Yohance Lewis at the back post who netted his first goal for the Motormen.

A shot high and wide by Corbett in the dying minutes was the closest that Sutton got to levelling for a third time as the Motormen racked up another victory to move up to 14th position.

Redbridge travel to 7th placed Cambridge City on Tuesday and a win could put them in to the top half of the table.

Sutton United: Wilson, Gray, Akuamoah, Arkali (Olusesi), Scarborough (Brake), Corbett (c), Fear, Booth, Watkins, Vansittart, Gonsalves. Subs not used: Boosey, Martin, Iga.

Redbridge: Harrison, Stephens, McLeod, Perkins, Halle, Lincoln (B. Lewis), Fiddes, Edwards, Davies (Y. Lewis), Poole, Remy (Murray) Subs not used: Bull, Plummer
Bookings: Murray (dangerous play/high elbow), Perkins (Foul), Gray (dangerous header?!)

Referee: Ian Gosling
Assistants: G. Mays, G. Owen

Attendance 513