Centre half Liam Thomas was The Motormen’s unlikely hero after he netted a hat-trick as Redbridge went five clear at the top of the Essex Senior League with victory over West Essex on Friday night at Oakside.
The hosts should of been in front in only the second minute as the ball dropped to Eljay Worrell bang in front of the visitors goal however he could only blast his effort wide, and just three minutes later the visitors took the lead when Joe Lefley got a second bite of the cherry to fire past Lewis Greene.
In the 19th minute Calvin Poku almost got onto a through ball for the hosts, but visitors keeper Dan Russell managed to come out and smother the ball, and three minutes later a lung busting run from Joshua Hutchinson saw him lay off a ball to Poku, but the forward could only fire a powerful effort over the visitors bar.
Midway through the half Fatos Zeqiri sliced an effort wide for the visitors as they continued to compete well with the league leaders, and on the half hour mark a Redbridge corner was headed wide by Thomas from six yards out.
Ten minutes before half time the ball broke to Worrell inside the West Essex box but he could onky drag his effort wide of the far post, and two minutes later the hosts saw Martin Tuohy send a deflected header at goal, but this was saved easily by Russell. It meant despite all the hosts attacking pressure they found themselves a goal behind at the break.
Half Time Redbridge 0 West Essex 1
The visitors had a decent chance to double their lead six minutes after the break as a ball into the box was headed wide by Tom Macleod, but just five minutes later Redbridge equalised when after second half substitute Brian Moses had seen a point blank effort saved by Russell, Thomas followed up to score by sending an effort through a crowded six yard box and into the net.
And just before the hour it was a quickfire double for centre half Thomas as he diverted a Worrell free kick into the goal and suddenly the hosts had the lead.
The visitors fired a loose ball well wide of target midway through the half but they had responded well after going behind although they failed to really test Greene in the hosts goal, and with seventeen minutes left a scramble in the visitors box eventually saw the ball deflect wide of goal, although a goal kick was given.
In the 77th minute a great ball into the box by another second half substitute Jacob Dingli saw Moses attack the visitors near post but see his deft flick fly across goal and away from danger, as the hosts remained just one goal to the good.
However with a minute of normal time remaining the hosts won a penalty when Dingli got clear and rounded keeper Russell who hacked him to the floor, resulting in the dismissal of the visitors keeper. And the ball was handed to centre half Thomas to give him the chance of completing a memorable hat-trick, and Thomas took the chance well and sparked wild scenes amongst the hosts.
In the 95th minute Lefley thumped a terrific effort against the Redbridge post with keeper Greene well beaten, but it was too little too late for West Essex who despite a gallant effort here fell to defeat against the league’s best team right now arguably.
Full Time Redbridge 3 West Essex 1
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