SOUTH: Motormen win against the odds
Written by Jeremy Hill
Newport County 2 (Bowen 33 pen, Phillips 75)
Redbridge 3 (Wild 29, Valdez 57, J Edwards 65)
With the confirmation that his side had been docked 3 points, with only 13 players available due to injuries and a late registration, with five players making their full first team debuts, with three 17-year-olds featuring in a squad whose oldest player was just 23 years old and with an average age of under 20; with a 170 mile road trip, with 464 passionate Newport County fans in attendance; Craig Edwards, John Frostick and the Redbridge squad pulled off their result and performance of the season with a hard-fought victory in a five-goal thriller at Spytty Park.
With the departure of Glenn Poole to Thurrock, Garry Skerrit took over the number 10 shirt for his full first team debut alongside Shane Mangodza, Chris Wild, Tom Davey and Andrew Julius. Richard Halle failed a late fitness test and handed over the captain's armband to Craig Edwards whilst Ricky Dobson was ineligible due to an administrative error that meant he was not registered in time for the game. Unfortunately for Dobson this did not come to light until the team were well into the outward journey and he had to endure the 340 mile round trip as a spectator.
In a wet and cold day in Wales, Redbridge looked comfortable during the early exchanges. Craig Edwards produced a low save from Roger Freestone after 10 minutes while at the other end Eddie Duah's cross from the right found Matthew Rees who didn't get enough power on the header to trouble Nicky Wilson.
The visitors were nearly made to pay for not clearing a free kick in the 19th minute and Jamie Moralee fired over the bar after being teed up by Jonathon Coates.
The hosts' main danger was on the right hand side where Duah was proving a constant headache for Valdez and the Redbridge defence.
Redbridge opened the scoring after 29 minutes when Julian Edwards managed to block a clearance only for the ball to be deflected agonisingly wide of Freestone's upright. From the resulting Yohance Lewis corner, Wild rose above the static County defence to head home a debut goal.
The goal spurred County into life and just moments later Moralee headed the ball straight at Wilson from a Darren Jones cross when he should have put the hosts on level terms.
Despite this miss, the home fans didn't have to wait much longer to get on level terms. In bizarre fashion, Wild was adjudged to have handled the ball in his own area by Assistant Referee Paul Stowe who was 40 yards away from play with Referee Ian Scarr only 10 yards away. Not only was the referee closer to the incident, but his view was not obscured whereas Wild had his back to Stowe. Nonetheless, Bowen stepped up to send Wilson the wrong way and get the hosts on level terms.
Newport finished the first half the stronger of the two teams with Bowen releasing Coates down the left hand side, but his teasing cross flashed across the Redbridge goal with his team-mates unable to get on the end of it. Jones then saw his header cleared off the line and Duah flashed the clearance over the bar when he should have troubled Wilson.
The second half started with chances at both ends, Julian Edwards shot just wide of the County goal and at the other end Wilson produced a fine save to his right from Bowen after a surging run down the right by Lee Phillips.
The Motormen then went on to score twice in an eight-minute spell. In the 57th minute Valdez was on hand to fire home from close range after a dangerous free kick from the right produced a goalmouth scramble. The visitors went 3-1 up when a quick break, in which they travelled the full length of the pitch, resulted in Skerrit's defence splitting pass finding Lewis, and when his progress was stopped, Julian Edwards was on hand to coolly slot home past Freestone.
Redbridge had a chance to extend their lead when substitute Petrit Elbi saw his shot deflected wide after being teed up by Julian Edwards.
County gave their supporters hope when they pulled a goal back in the 75th minute through Lee Phillips. Duah's free kick from the right was headed on by Rees and Phillips was on hand to stab the ball home from close range.
Duah limped off injured in the 78th minute and with his departure went County's best chance of finding an equaliser, in fact County's last chance of note came shortly before he was replaced when his cross was met by a weak Sam O'Sullivan header that was easily gathered by Wilson.
A great result for the Redbridge squad and management was met by jubilant scenes both on the field and in the changing room. The Motormen now hope to carry this forward into Saturday's FA Trophy game with Weymouth whilst the Under 18's side face Bristol Rovers at the Oakside on Wednesday night in the FA Youth Cup and a possible home tie with last year's winners Middlesborough in the next round.
Newport County: R. Freestone, L. Phillips, S. Morgan, G. Jones, M. Rees, D. Jones, E. Duah (D. Evans 78), A. Williams, J. Moralee (J. Phillips 66), J. Bowen, J. Coates (S. O'Sullivan 66). Subs: A. Thomas, K. Blackburn.
Redbridge: Wilson, Nevill, Valdez, Mangodza, Wild, Davey, Julius (Elbi 49), C Edwards, J Edwards, Skerrit, Lewis. Sub not used: Bull
Bookings: Magodza 64mins
Attendance: 464
