FA TROPHY: John Frostick's view on Redbridge win
Roving reporter Jeremy Hill managed to catch up with Redbridge FC management team's John Frostick after the Motormen overcame Weymouth in the FA Trophy second round tie on Saturday...
A hard fought victory today, what do you see as the positives?
"We looked more solid and strong today than we have all season with the best back four we have had so far this season. We don't look like we are going to concede goals now. It is our first clean sheet."
We had a few new players in the line up today; Richard Thomas made his debut in midfield what were your views on him?
"He doesn't normally play in the centre of midfield; he plays at centre back or right back. He adapted really well, he had a great game in there."
And Lloyd Opara?
"He's a big strong powerful player who gets goals. Today wasn't his day but he's a player who I think will come through."
Weymouth had the better of the first 20 minutes were you worried?
"We didn't start well, we let them have a lot of possession but they weren't hurting us. We weren't retaining the ball and up front their centre half was winning a lot of the ball. They kept it (the ball) really well."
Chris Wild picked up a nasty gash in the first minute, how do you see his and Shayne Mangodza's performance at the back?
"I thought our central defenders defended well, they defended as a pair and that's what we like to see. They are no-nonsense defenders, they wont mess about with the ball and they'll smash it out of the ground if they have to. They're good players."
What was your view on the Ricky Dobson sending off?
"The referee had no option really, Ricky kicked the ball away after a bad decision and he's been booked for dissent (first booking), which is fair enough. For the second one it was a bad tackle where he's pulled the player back so no complaints with the decision really."
What was your view of the penalty, did it come as a surprise?
"We had a decision shortly before that where Julian got obstructed in the box, which nowadays isn't an indirect free kick it's a penalty. I think the referee not giving that one may have influenced his decision on the second one because it did look like a push and a tug on him but you get that every 10 minutes (in a game) so I think he (the referee) caved in and gave it."
What about the last 15 minutes with our backs against the wall, were the dug-out confident that we would pull through?
"Yeah I think that as its gone this year we haven't had a clean sheet all season, obviously you worry 'what's going to happen here? Are they going to get a late equaliser?' but we always feel confident with that back four and when Ricky went off and we brought Richard (Halle) on we still looked solid at the back - alright it was a little bit of backs against the wall, but any cup tie is going to be like that if you are winning and then trying to defend it."
Do any players stand out for you today or was it just a good team performance?
"I think it was a great team performance, especially our defending as a unit. Richard Thomas did really well in the centre of midfield, we asked him to play in a position to which he is not suited and we are really pleased with what he did."
Craig Edwards junior stepped up to take the penalty, was that predetermined or spur-of-the-moment?
"All set pieces and penalties are predetermined before the game, two players are picked and Craig is first choice, and if he's not on the pitch there is a second choice. Craig senior will tell you better than I will that he (Craig junior) has never missed a penalty in his life so he was first choice."
Who would you like to draw in the next round?
Dagenham and Redbridge at home would be lovely!
Anything you would like to mention?
"There was a good bit of support from our fans, of course there is not a lot of them (!) but they (the players) got a bit of vocal support at the end and that's nice to see. Hopefully we will get some more support in the next round and go on from there."
John Frostick was interviewed by Jeremy Hill.
Click here to read the match report
