Ryman One North: Barkingside 3 Redbridge 5
A Daniel Charge second half hat-trick inspired Redbridge to record a victory in an eight-goal thriller over tenants Barkingside at Oakside last night.
Side were by far the better team in the opening period, but went in level at 2-2 at half time, and a much-improved second half saw the Motormen dominate to complete a league double over their rivals.
Both sides struggled to get going early on but Side were the first to have an attempt on goal as Andy Edmunds warmed the hands of Redbridge goalkeeper Dean Driscoll.
Barkingside were always susceptible to set pieces, and the warning signs were there when Eljay Worrell’s inswinging free-kick wasn’t dealt with, but it evaded everyone and sailed wide.
It was the hosts who broke the deadlock on 17 minutes though when some poor defending from Redbridge resulted in the ball falling to Steve Carvell who was unmarked and he wrong footed Driscoll before coolly slotting home.
The action had taken a little while to get going, but that was only the start of what would become an action-packed remainder.
That set piece problem reared its head for the hosts as Redbridge levelled when an inswinging corner fell to Kurt Smith who managed to bundle the ball over the line on 34 minutes.
But play had only just restarted when Matt Frew’s side restored their lead as Chas Liddiard broke free of the Motormen defence and he slotted past an onrushing Driscoll.
Redbridge had by no means played anywhere near their best, but found themselves fortunately level going into the break when another corner wasn’t fully cleared and Ben Bradbury was there on the edge of the area to slot home despite the best efforts of Gabriel Onireti on the line and Chris Clark in the Barkingside goal.
The first half ended eventful, but nobody could have predicted the turn of events in the second period.
Sean Crossley was booked for a late foul on Charge, before the Motormen took the lead for the first time in the game
Eljay Worrell’s deep ball in found Charge at the back post and the former Dagenham youngster looped a fine header over Clark.
The debate went on as to whether Clark had clawed it off the line but the linesman ruled the effort to have gone over the line and the goal stood.
Crossley was then shown his marching orders for another poor tackle, this time on Smith, and it looked to be a tall order for Side from then on.
It would be even harder on 66 minutes when a lovely ball in from Bradbury was straight into the path of Charge who had the simple task of finishing off the move.
Whatever you say about Barkingside, they never gave up.
Liddiard in particular looked threatening all night and he raced clear of the visiting defeance following a Bobby Port throughball and he slotted past Driscoll.
Barkingside pushed for an equaliser, but there was no denying Redbridge and Charge the win as he stroked the ball past Clark to complete his hat-trick.
Tempers did flare after the full-time whistle between the two rivals, but the Motormen were assured of the local bragging rights with a maximum points return against their tenants this season.
Barkingside: Clark, Hayes (Davie 69), Rolls, Callaway, Crossley, Onireti (Fontaine 85), Edmunds, Carvell, Liddiard, Gulfer, Poku (Port 65).
Unused substitutes: Ellis, Pitman.
Redbridge: Driscoll, Adelekan (Francis 75), Good (Okpara 46), L Thomas, T Thomas, Damali (Henty 46), Bradbury, Carlile, Smith, Charge, Worrell.
Unused substitutes: Aiken, Dobson.
Attendance: 107.
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