After losing at Haringey last weekend, Motormen keen to bounce back at home

Redbridge joint-manager Dave Ross insists his players have the quality to beat Thurrock in the Ryman North at Oakside on Saturday, but accepts talk means little as this stage of the season.

The Motormen entertain a team currently second having scored 89 goals this year. On the other hand Ross and Ricky Eaton’s men are bottom and 14 points from safety with just five matches remaining.

It is a precarious position to be in heading into April and their cause wasn’t helped after a 2-0 loss to Haringey Borough last weekend, before Monday’s home clash with Cheshunt was called off due to a waterlogged pitch.

Ross expects their Oakside surface to be fine to welcome Fleet on Saturday and believes they can get a positive result.

He said: “I think it’ll be on, the weather forecast is not too bad between now and the weekend so hopefully it goes ahead. It is a massive game for both teams and I’m not being funny, but we can beat them.

“We can win against any of these sides and we could have got something from the Haringey match, but we just weren’t good enough on the day.”

The Motormen have registered some fine results in the Essex Senior Cup and London Senior Cup, but struggled in the league.

While their relegation isn’t confirmed yet, it could be after this weekend’s game.

But Ross will not give up until it is confirmed and even when that occurs, he is still determined to see them finish strongly.

“Obviously it is a big game this weekend, but they all are now,” added the Redbridge boss.

“We need to try and finish above Barkingside because you never know what that brings, but for Thurrock they will want the points as well to stay second.”

Motormen’s postponed fixture with Cheshunt will now take place on April 12. The Oakside outfit were left disappointed on Saturday at Coles Park.

Haringey took the lead after quarter of an hour when Dan Aristidou found the net and they doubled their advantage in the 69th minute when Ross Dedman fired past Niklas Freund to leave Redbridge on the brink.