Motormen boss reflects on 4-3 loss to Thamesmead Town after more individual errors

Redbridge joint-manager Dave Ross feels his team have taken one step forward only to take two back after yesterday’s defeat in the Ryman North to Thamesmead Town.

Motormen fought back from two goals down, but a brace from Charlie Portway and a late Jay Knight strike brought no reward.

The Mead were celebrating a 4-3 triumph come full time at Oakside and the result kept Ross and Ricky Eaton’s men 22nd in the table.

It means they have shipped 12 goals in their last three matches and taken no points from those games either.

Ross said: “It was very frustrating, we told boys to keep it tight and what happens? Thamesmead get a goal almost within a minute.

“They are very strong as it is and we gave them a goal start. We let in another to make our task even harder.

“But the boys dug deep and we get it back to 2-2 and we’re in control before we let in another sloppy goal. It was very disappointing not to even take a point from the game.”

Redbridge’s defending has frustrated Ross recently and he admits they’ll be looking to try and improve that as quickly as possible.

On the plus side, the Motormen have scored eight goals in their last three matches with Charlie Portway scoring three of them.

“You can’t play a team like Thamesmead and let in four goals so we need to score five to win the game,” added Ross.

“Ricky and I will be looking closely at it because we are conceding a lot of goals and it isn’t good enough.

“The only saving grace is we are scoring so we have solved that problem and we are creating chances.

“You take one step forward and then it is two back. We need to find out why we are conceding so many goals.”

To compound Redbridge’s frustrating night, Waltham Abbey picked up a 2-1 win over Dereham Town to go five points clear of the Motormen.

Christian Assombalonga scored twice to get them a win and Ross praised the quality of the forward.

He added: “They have the boy up front that is scoring a lot of goals for them. I have been told he is on a contract there.

“I liked the look of him when we played them before and believe a lot of big clubs have looked at him.

“They are very lucky to have him and I think his brother is a professional as well, but having said that - we have a lot of good boys up front. We just need to remember how to defend now.”