Motormen boss reflects on defeat to AFC Sudbury and latest transfer news at the Oakside club

Redbridge joint-manager Dave Ross felt Billy Drake’s red card was the turning point during their Ryman North clash with AFC Sudbury on Saturday.

The Motormen always faced a tough task against the leaders of the division, but had to play the majority of the second half with 10 men.

Charlie Portway’s goal just before the interval ensured it was level at the break, but four goals without reply gave the hosts a 5-1 success.

“It sounds like we were well in the game, it was 1-1 at half time and Sudbury’s players were arguing with each other coming in so we were doing well,” said Ross, who couldn’t attend the match.

“After the break we came out and Billy getting sent off is the turning point. It is hard enough to play them with 11 men, let alone with 10!

“We were hoping to get something from the game, but Sudbury are running away with the league and we had eight players missing, which doesn’t help. It was really good to be in it for so long, but the red has killed us.”

The Motormen were set to host Tilbury in the quarter-finals of the Essex Senior Cup yesterday (Tuesday), but it was postponed due to a waterlogged Oakside pitch.

And that clash has now been switched to the Dockers’ Chadfield Stadium and taking place tomorrow (Thursday) evening.

Ross revealed they will be missing various players for the cup tie and resting some ahead of Saturday’s league fixture with Great Wakering Rovers.

He added: “The ball is in Tilbury’s court now as to whether it goes ahead or not. They have reversed the fixture so it is at their place.

“We are hoping it can go ahead, they haven’t played on their pitch this week so fingers crossed we can finally get it on.

“Unfortunately we are without Charlie Portway or John Burgess, who we just signed from Brentwood. They are both cup-tied.

“Paulius Ditkevicius has got a contract in Italy now too with a Serie C club and Jamie Alexandrou is going to Cyprus to play professionally. I wish both of them the best of luck.

“We have a big squad and if the boys that come in do the job, they’ll play again on Saturday. I will have no hesitation about using them as long as they are fully fit. It would be nice not to concede the ridiculous amount of goals we have been lately.”