Barking 0 Redbridge 1 at Mayesbrook Park
FA Cup Preliminary Round
In a tense local derby it was the visitors Redbridge who earned the right to play in the next round of the FA Cup as a smart Anton Agdomar strike saw the Motormen through. Barking put up a good fight and it was credit to them that they tested Redbridge late on and didn’t give up.
Barking of course earned the right to host Redbridge by defeating Hadley FC in a replay last week and it was no surprise that the hosts started the game well. Good play by Joe Turner early on set up George Tubey whose pass found Chas Liddiard on the edge of the box. Ther was alot of work for the centre forward to do but Liddiard turned inside Simon Peddie before blasting a powerful shot goalwards that narrowly went over the bar.
Jon Mogege was looking in good form for the hosts and the strong midfielder was unlucky twice to see shots blocked from 30 yards that would have tested Dave McCartney in goal for Redbridge. As it was Mogege’s shots were blocked allowing Redbridge to get back into the game.
Greg Thompson in midfield for Redbridge was lining up against one of his old clubs and the workman-like midfielder saw a deflected shot hit the post following good work from Anton Agdomar and Alex Read up front. Read was in the action moments later when a good run down the wing presented Lee Matson with a cross into the box. The reliable Matson sent in a brilliant ball into the box which Julian Ashby acrobatically volleyed narrowly over the bar.
Chris Clark in goal for Barking made a brilliant save to keep out Steve Good’s powerful drive from just outside the box. Even better than the save was the fact Clark palmed the ball away meaning Read and Ashby could not tap in the rebound.
The remainder of the half saw Read try and get the goal that his play deserved but three times he shot over the bar which meant that the score was goalless at half time.
With everything to play for going into the second half, Steve Munday’s side would have been confident of coming back into the game. Good play from Mark Steadman and Ben O’Brien presented Turner with a chance through on goal but McCartney rushing out collected the ball before the forward could strike the ball goalwards.
Just as Barking were mounting pressure on goal, Redbridge grabbed the decisive goal that their first half play warranted. Good play from Good and Matson out wide presented the ball to Read inside the box. Read cleverly played the ball to Agdomar who sidestepped his marker before burying the ball into the bottom corner for his first goal of the season. Clark in goal standing no chance.
Both sides made changes in the last twenty minutes and Redbridge substitute Julian Edwards almost got a goal late on when he shot narrowly wide after an Agdomar header fell straight into his path. Brian Suchley was brought on for Barking late on and although he made an impact the visitors were able to hang onto their lead and face London Colney in the next round at home in a 2 weeks time.
