Ilford boss Allan Fenn is delighted to pay rivals Redbridge back for earlier this season with a 3-1 victory in the Errington Challenge Cup Round One.
The Foxes went into the clash seeking revenge for their 5-1 defeat to the Motormen earlier this season and managed to pull off exactly that at Oakside on Saturday.
Fenn’s men have progressed through the cup competition and have set up a home tie with Wadham Lodge in Round Two of the cup competition.
“The relationship I share with them, unfortunately there is a lot of bad blood and a lot of bad history that goes between myself and Redbridge,” he said.
“Apart from that a win away to Redbridge, who are a very good side no doubt about that, I’m delighted with that and particularly of the reaction after the last time three weeks ago where we got totally destroyed and humiliated.”
Ilford have now gone six games undefeated and Fenn is delighted with their current form.
“I’ve got belief in the team as we’ve got a strong side.
“Redbridge are a very good side and to be half a dozen unbeaten now and beat the likes of Tower Hamlets, Takeley, Redbridge and Barkingside away in a derby so we’re really pleased.
“Saturday was great and will give us confidence going forward.”
The manager also admitted he is glad his side helped him back up his words before the match against their local rivals.
“Everyone can talk a good game of football and everyone does it and if we’d gone over there and fallen flat on our faces then I would have been the one eating humble pie, but it so happens we had a stronger side out and got a better result.”
Fenn is pleased with how his squad have come since their up-and-down pre-season and start to the 2017/18 season.
“Everyone is fully aware of what happened to us in pre-season and the start we had, we didn’t have a team to start with, we’ve had to go trial and error and a lot of players have come and gone, but now we’ve got a good nucleus there.
“We’re strong, dependable and experienced and we’re building good relationships with each other on the pitch and off the pitch, so there is a real camaraderie around the camp.
“We’ve come on leap and bounds, that’s off the pitch as well and on it.”
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here