SOUTH: Stortford hold Motormen to first draw of season
Written by Jeremy Hill
Redbridge FC 1 - Edwards 18
Bishop's Stortford 1 - Morison 35
Redbridge lost their claim to being one of only two teams in the Conference not to have drawn a game this season when they had to settle for the share of the points with visitors Bishop's Stortford.
Redbridge boss Craig Edwards handed Djouman Sangare his first league start after he impressed in scoring the Motormen's third goal in their weekend win over Havant and Waterlooville.
Blues boss Martin Hayes gave recent Northampton signing Steve Morison a start up front in tandem with Duanne Jackman.
On a chilly evening, Stortford were quickest out of the blocks creating wave after wave of attack and making it difficult for Redbridge to leave their own half in the first quarter of an hour.
As early as the seventh minute Stortford should have taken the lead. Morison fed Alex Martin on the right hand side and his first class cross deserved a similar finish but neither Richard Howell, Steve Paramenter or Jackman assumed responsibility and the danger was eventually cleared.
Two minutes later the impressive Howell turned inside Liam Francis and curled a left footed shot just over the angle of Nicky Wilson's bar.
In only his second league appearance for the Motormen, Wilson was again impressing with his shot stopping ability and he foiled Martin on 16 minutes after he was released by Howell.
Stortford were by far the better side to this point but they were hit by the old sucker punch in the 18th minute when the Motormen's first attack led to Craig Edwards firing into the roof of the net from the edge of the box after Alex Fiddes' lay off.
The goal gave the hosts the boost they needed and the game became a more evenly contested affair. Martin's free kick was headed narrowly wide by Blues' skipper Dave Rainford and at the other end Edwards lofted a high ball into the box which Rob Elliot gathered at the second attempt with Douglas and Yohance Lewis closing in.
Morison illustrated his pace when passing Chris Perkins in the 29th minute but could only shoot wide of Wilson's goal and four minutes later Howell forced another excellent save from Wilson from close range.
After a slow start Redbridge were now more than holding their own against the visitors, Stortford managed to get on even terms when Morison and Jackman exchanged passes on the edge of the Motormen area and Morison's initial shot was well saved by Wilson, Richard Halle then made a crucial last ditch tackle but Morison managed to find a way through with Howell on hand to make sure their was no doubt that the ball had crossed the line.
Three minutes later the Blues nearly took the lead when Howell beat Francis for pace and his low cross created opportunities for both Jackman and Morison, but they were both thwarted by some resolute Redbridge defending.
Craig Edwards was dealt a blow in the 40th minute when Sangare limped off with a hamstring injury, he reshuffled his pack by bringing on Under 18s skipper Dean Nevill to play right back with the versatile Ben Lewis moving up front to partner Douglas.
Nevill made his bow in the first team with a heavy-duty tackle on Martin barely a minute after coming on.
Both sides went close before the break with Halle's free kick from inside his own half being flicked on by Ben Lewis for Alex Fiddes to strike wide of the target and Howell forced a save out of Wilson from Martin's cross.
The second half saw a drop in tempo but the game continued to fascinate with both teams putting in some full blooded tackles and creating further opportunities. Referee Mr Frances was at the centre of some controversial decisions which seemed to further antagonise both sets of players and management.
In the 55th minute Douglas crossed for Ben Lewis to head narrowly wide and a minute later Redbridge were relieved to see the back of Howell who limped off after being at the centre of much of Stortford's creative play.
Mark Graham who replaced Howell on the Stortford right managed to get round Francis in the 64th minute and his cross was narrowly headed over by Morison.
At this stage Redbridge were enjoying the lion's share of the possession and Douglas saw his shot from the edge of the area deflected wide and the resulting Poole corner was headed wide by Ben Lewis.
Carlos Madiokoka replaced Douglas who looked to have taken a knock when shooting at goal, and he nearly made an immediate impression when his first touch in the Stortford area was deflected wide of Elliot's upright.
The visitors could have snatched a last gasp goal when Morison nearly capped his contractual debut by beating Halle and forcing an excellent save from Wilson to his right.
Redbridge: Wilson, Ben Lewis, Francis, Perkins (c), Halle, Sangere (Nevill 40), Fiddes, Edwards, Douglas (Madiokoka 76), Poole, Yohance Lewis. Subs not used: Bull, Murray, Skerret.
Bishop's Stortford: Elliot, Allman, Gwillim, Rainford (c), Riches, Theobald, Howell (Graham 57), Parmenter, Morison, Jackman (Hakim 76), Martin (Fenton 81). Subs not used: Young, Gilman.
Bookings: Ben Lewis 48, Hakim 90
Attendance 168
