SOUTH: Stannard praises team effort as Motormen just lose out
Written by Jeremy Hill
Weston-Super-Mare 1 (Hogg 45)
Redbridge 0
Weston-Super-Mare extended their impressive home record with a hard fought 1-0 victory over a spirited Redbridge side who earned full marks for effort from new boss Jim Stannard.
"The boys gave everything they had tonight. 13 of the 14 players I used gave 100% and as a manager you cannot ask for more than that," said Stannard.
However, the manager highlighted a lapse of concentration in his side's defence as costing them the chance to leave Woodspring Stadium with a share of the points: "We competed well with them over the entire 90 minutes, but a lapse of concentration just before the break cost us.'
After a bout of bad weather over the last week, which forced the host's home game with Hayes to be called off, the ground staff did an excellent job ensuring Redbridge's 160-mile trip wasn't in vein as the game went ahead as scheduled.
Redbridge boss Jim Stannard started the game with a 3-5-2 formation, however this was forcefully thrown out of the window when defender Djoumain Sangare pulled up lame after only 14 minutes.
The blustery conditions proved difficult for both sides and the opening 20 minutes went by with few chances until Jay Murray headed at Seagull's stopper Ryan Northmore after a Tristian Toney cross from the right, following a good spell of play from the Motormen.
A miskick from the otherwise flawless Danny Thomas led to Adie Mings trying his luck from 20 yards, but Redbridge keeper Nicky Morgan comfortably collected.
Super-Mare's main threat in the opening 45 minutes came from set pieces. In the 24th minute a whipped free-kick from Jon French resulted in Steve Jenkins firing wide after Morgan's punch. Six minutes later a back-header from Billy Clark was comfortably collected by Morgan following a free-kick from the same player
The pressure continued: an inventive one-two between Mings and Cowe landed for Lewis Hogg who blazed wide when he should have hit the target, and Mangodza headed to safety over his own bar after yet another French free kick.
On the stroke of half time Hogg made amends for his earlier miss when he curled a low finish around the grounded Mangodza and past Morgan into the bottom corner. Hogg's goal came after a corner from the Redbridge left was not cleared.
The second half saw the Motormen go in search of an equaliser. Debutants Goma Lambu and Gazmead Dauti looked to be the main creative outlets: Goma causing problems on the left hand side with his pace and array of skills, whilst Dauti looked at home initially on the right before the formation change meant a more central role.
Much of the Seagulls' play was aimed towards impressive striker Stephen Cowe who on countless occasions received the ball at his feet with his back to goal before feeding supporting players with his intelligent passing. Another frequently used outlet from the hosts was the right-hand side, where fan favourite Jon French and Andy Robertson ran into space behind the Redbridge defence. This use of the outlet was best illustrated in the 71st minute when a slick move led to Robertson bombing down the right, and his cross behind the Redbridge defence ended up at the feet of Matthew Rose who shot over when he should have hit the target.
A minute later, a cavalier 50-yard run from Robertson, again down the Redbridge right, resulted in his cross finding Hogg who couldn't hit the target.
Seven minutes from the end, the ball fell sweetly for Rose on the edge of the Redbridge penalty area and he tried to pick his spot but again was frustrated as his shot sailed over.
Whilst the Seagulls were having more opportunities on goal, the Redbridge side would not lie down and were still plugging away, with the players growing in understanding as the match wore on. Danny Thomas provided the Motormen with a strong physical presence in the centre of midfield and Alex Tiese looked dangerous when receiving the ball at his feet and running at defenders. At the back, Shayne Mangodza was immaculate in his battle with the physical presence of Mings
With time ticking out, Tiese picked up the ball and burst into the box but was thwarted by the mean Weston defence shepherded by the impressive Billy Clark.
In the dying minutes substitute Ian Luck, who replaced the hard-working Thomas with 15 minutes to go, appeared to be pulled back by the last line of the Seagulls defence when seemingly through on goal. The appeals from the Redbridge players and management team fell on the deaf ears of young referee Oliver Langford who did acknowledge the foul, giving a free kick, but declined to even speak to the guilty player.
The Seagulls had the final chance of the evening when French went on a mazy 70-yard run after picking up the ball from a Redbridge corner. He exchanged passes with Hogg and fired weakly at Morgan.
Stannard now takes his improved team to Ashford, Kent, this Saturday for an all-important meeting with Margate.
Redbridge: Formation (3-5-2) - Nicky Morgan, Tristan Toney, Goma Lambu, Shayne Mangodza, Djoumain Sangare (Andrew Julius 14), Russ Crouch, Gazmead Dauti, Danny Thomas (Clyde Roberts 76), Alex Tiesse, Jay Murray (Ian Luck 66), Keith Rowland. Subs not used: David Bull, Ricky Dobson.
Attendance: 202
Referee Mr O.Langford
