SOUTH: Overland lapse costs Redbridge dearly
Written by Jeremy Hill
Bishops Stortford 2 (Morrison 12,90)
Redbridge 1 (Opara 29)
Jim Stannard and Dave Martin should be forgiven if they woke up on Sunday morning with thumping headaches. The new management team have worked hard to build a Redbridge team since taking the reigns in early January and have seen them steadily improve apart from the odd hiccup along the way. On Saturday, they must have watched from the dugout satisfied with the spirited 90-minute performance their team had given them away from home, only for a lapse of concentration deep into stoppage time to cost the Motormen a deserved point at then 10th placed Bishops Stortford.
The Motormen fielded no fewer than five changes from the side that lost to Havant and Waterlooville in midweek. New loanees Gary Richardson and Craig Johnson were joined in the line up by the returns of Tom Davey, Keith Rowland and Lloyd Opara.
There were few goalmouth opportunities in the opening 10 minutes. Graeme Carrick produced a nice turn and shot from 25 yards which went narrowly wide for the visitors, and at the other end Richard Howell aimed a weak header at Simon Overland from Gareth Gwillim's cross.
The hosts took the lead in the 12th minute when Dean Cracknell's free kick into the Redbridge area found Stevenage loanee Laurie Stuart who looked to have scored on his debut but for Steve Morison to claim the final touch.
Redbridge produced their best move of the match to date five minutes later when Ricky Dobson found Davey who in turn freed Carrick on the left. Carrick fed Rowland whose cross was well cut out by Andrew Young with Opara and Keith Martin prowling in the area. But a good leap from former Redbridge man Mervyn Abraham saw him win the ball in the air above the taller Richardson. From the loose ball Morison latched onto a pass from Alex Martin but shot wide of the target.
Carrick was again at the heart of another neat Redbridge move when he played a one-two with Johnson but the ball towards Opara in the area was in vein as the Motormen striker was flagged offside.
Overland produced a fine diving save from a Richard Howell header after a spell of pressure from the hosts from both a free kick and a corner. From the resulting clearance up field Redbridge equalised. Keith Martin won and then held the ball up to feed Lloyd Opara who unleashed a fierce shot, which beat Young from 20 yards.
Shortly afterwards Opara went on a strong run at the heart of the Stortford defence but dragged his shot well wide of the target.
Five minutes before half time Overland ensured the score remained unchanged with another fine save, this time from Abraham who had latched onto a Cracknell through ball. With just the keeper to beat Abraham rightly tried to lift the ball over Overland but the Redbridge stopper made himself big and was able to stifle the threat.
The second half was most memorable for the snowfall that fell at various points during the half. It was perhaps this and the increasingly cold conditions which may have led to a less eventful 45 minutes.
The hosts again had the better of the early going with Cracknell's goalward effort headed over the bar to safety by Fenton. The resulting corner produced a fine save by Overland to his left.
The Motormen had their best chance of the early stages when Carrick managed to get to a high ball just before Blues stopper Young; his header rolled towards the unguarded net before Allman was able to clear the danger.
Opara, perhaps sniffing another "double" to join his two goals against Weymouth last Saturday, had a low snap shot collected at the second time of asking by Young.
The hosts then had several good opportunities to regain the lead as the second half reached the halfway stage. Howell saw his shot go wide of the target, substitute Paul Hakim shot over, Rainford shot wide and Alex Martin forced Overland into a low save.
Despite this spell of chances, the Motormen were still plugging away and Johnson cut in from the right to shoot left footed at Young from 20 yards.
The final five minutes saw chances at both ends. Rainford again warmed the hands of Overland with a 20-yard drive, while Johnson did likewise at the other end and some panic in the Redbridge defence from a Langer cross resulted in a welcome clearance by Lumsden.
Just as both sides seemed to have settled for a point apiece and had one eye on finding some shelter from the falling snow, a free-kick from the right fell in the path of Morison whose innocuous looking header somehow found a way through Overland. Given the excellent saves he had pulled off earlier in the match, the Redbridge stopper will have been extremely disappointed that this tame effort went through him.
Some very frustrated looking Redbridge players exited the pitch at the referee's final whistle knowing that they were desperately close to earning a well deserved point. Overland may have done well to find himself a quiet corner of the coach for the short trip home, however it should be reiterated that the former Millwall man produced some fine saves to keep his side in the contest.
Redbridge now find themselves propping up the Nationwide Conference South and next entertain Carshalton Athletic in what is surely a must win game as the end of the season draws near.
Redbridge line up:
1. Simon Overland, 2. Phil Lumsden, 3. Ricky Dobson, 4. Gary Richardson, 5. Anthony Fenton (c), 6. Tom Davey, 7. Craig Johnson, 8. Keith Rowland (14. Alex Tiese 81), 9. Lloyd Opara, 10. Graeme Carrick, 11. Keith Martin (15. Ian Luck 73).
Subs not used: 12 Bobby Dinnen, 13. Jake Whincup, 16. Liam Francis.
Bookings: Gary Richardson (late challenge), Tom Davey (late challenge)
Referee: Mr P.A Forrester
Assistants: Mr C.M Turner and Mr M Foden.
Attendance 369
