Redbridge joint manager Steve Portway says his side are facing a string of cup finals in their fight to avoid relegation

Redbridge joint manager Steve Portway believes they have 11 cup finals between now and the end of the season as their fight to stay in the Ryman Division One North continues.

Portway was frustrated this week as both his side’s scheduled games at home against Ware and Brentwood were postponed due to a waterlogged Oakside pitch.

But despite their latest cancellations Portway is not a worried man, despite the prospect of a backlog of fixtures left for Motormen between now and the end of the season.

“I wouldn’t say I am concerned about the amount of games we have left,” said Portway.

“If you look at Brentwood they are playing three times a week and that’s tough.

“If there was no game we would be training anyway so it doesn’t really matter if it’s one or the other.”

The next few days could represents a tough spell for the Oakside outfit as they firstly make the trip to fifth-placed Aveley on Saturday before a home meeting with fellow promotion hopefuls Thamesmead on Tuesday.

But Portway feels his side can give both teams a run for their money.

“There is no denying that this is a hard week for us,” he added.

“Both Aveley and Thamesmead are in with a shout of promotion so we know it’ll be tough.

“We’ll go into each game positive that we can pick up a result. There is no point going into a game with any other attitude.

“If you do that you are at a disadvantage from the off.”

Redbridge have struggled to field a consistent side for most of the season, but if Portway is able to field his strongest line-up over the closing weeks of the campaign he is confident they can pick up the results they need to avoid the drop.

“I know it is a cliché but every game is a cup final for us,” said Portway.

“All the boys know the importance of the remaining games.

“Whenever we have got our strongest side out then we have been a match for any side in the division.

“That hasn’t been as often as I’d like, but hopefully that can change for the remaining games and we can stay up this season.”