SOUTH: Gate gain revenge over luckless Motormen
Margate 2 (Jjunju 18,55)
Redbridge 0
Written by Jeremy Hill
Margate gained revenge over the Motormen for their September loss at the Oakside with a well-deserved 2-0 victory at Homelands Stadium.
Redbridge were fielding four changes from the starting line up which went down 1-0 at Weston-Super-Mare in midweek, with Jamie Riley replacing the injured Nicky Morgan between the posts, Stuart Williams coming in for injured defender Shayne Mangodza, Deji Davies replacing Jay Murray upfront and Arran Freeman in for Gazmand Dauti on the right side of midfield.
Margate had player problems of their own, apparent from the fact that they were only able to name one substitute - a goalkeeper.
Few chances were created in the opening period of play, with Goma Lambu's lively run forcing a corner to which the same player fired a shot straight at Peter Trego. At the other end, Gate threatened in the 14th minute through captain Adrian Clarke who saw his shot blocked by the Redbridge defence from inside the area after a ball from Alexis Charalambous wasn't dealt with.
Another corner from Keith Rowland was won between Deji Davies and Danny Thomas; the ball fell invitingly for Lambu who shot wide from 20 yards.
In the 17th minute Redbridge produced a fine move involving a neat lay off from Davies for Greg Lincoln, who in turn swept a ball out right for Alex Tiesse. The former Millwall man let fly from the edge of the area but couldn't find a way past Trego.
Barely a minute later and the hosts were in front: a ball played forward from the Margate midfield was headed back by the Redbridge defence for Riley to collect; the header lacked sufficient pace and Riley had to stretch for the ball; under pressure from Moses Jjunju, he let go of the ball of which Jjunju collected and calmly slotted into an empty net.
The opening goal gave the hosts more confidence and Riley did well to collect a low Charalambous long-range effort. Minutes later, Clarke fed the ball into Rocky Baptise who turned well and produced a low shot that Riley did well to turn around the post.
Baptise was proving a real handful for the Redbridge defence, with his aerial ability and strength on the ball standing out as his main assets. Former Arsenal pro Greg Oates was also making a nuisance of himself on the right hand side, he produced a clever step over to gain some space from the covering Arran Freeman and then shot straight at Riley. Shortly afterwards the same player flighted in a free kick which Jjunju latched on to but his effort was deflected wide.
Five minutes before half time Redbridge nearly equalised: captain Greg Lincoln saw his free kick from 30 yards come off the inside of the upright and fall into the grateful hands of Trego.
Lincoln's opportunity seemed to lift the Motormen up to the half time period and they produced the last opportunity of note: Rowland teed up Tiesse who beat a 'Gate defender and curled a shot narrowly wide of Trego's upright.
'Gate produced the first opportunity of the second half with a fine move which resulted in Che Stadhart setting up Baptise whose shot at Riley was fumbled by the Redbridge stopper. Luckily, Rowland was covering his 'keeper and managed to clear his lines.
In the 55th minute, 'Gate doubled their lead when Jjunju headed home unchallenged inside the Redbridge area from Oates' free-kick on the right.
Margate went on to produce the better opportunities: Aaron Barnett volleyed straight at Riley, Peter Benevides missed the target when well placed, and Stuart Williams headed over his own bar after a dangerous Baptise cross was heading for hat-trick hunting Jjunju.
Redbridge enjoyed perhaps their best period of play during the last 10 minutes of the game. Lambu's cross was miss-hit by Tiesse and Tom Davey saw his shot go agonisingly wide of Trego's upright.
At the other end, Lincoln's ill-judged free-kick across his back line was intercepted by Baptise who produced a clever chip from 25 yards that dipped just over the Redbridge bar.
Jjunju was still searching for his hat-trick and when his clever backheel at goal from Stadhart's cross was blocked he fired wide of the target.
The Motormen find themselves holding up the Nationwide Conference South whilst their victors move up to a comfortable 16th place.
Redbridge next face high-flying Thurrock on Tuesday night at the Oakside in a game that will see the return of former Motormen Dave Collis and Glenn Poole.
Redbridge: Riley, Williams, Rowland (Hilaire 61), Thomas, Crouch, Lincoln (c), Lambu, Toney, Davies, Tiesse, Freeman (Davey 74). Subs not used: Smith, Bull, Mangodza.
