Upminster [M4s] 0 v 8 Redbridge & Ilford [M2s]

Saturday 4th November 2017

Half Time 0 – 2
Full Time 0 – 8

The heavy score line didn’t give a true reflection of Upminster’s performance in what was a very competitive game. Upminster started brightly and forced a couple of fine saves from the visiting keeper, on another day Ollie Peck’s strikes could have easily given the U’s a two goal lead. The first half ebbed and flowed with either side creating good chances. R&I eventually took the lead from a short corner strike, but despite going a goal down the U’s continued to press on. Stephen McLoughlin, Nigel Emes, John Fortune and John Beach defended stoically and kept the lead to only one goal until the dying minutes of the first period, when a close range strike rebounded off the midriff of keeper Dance and unfortunately crossed the goal line.

Still very much in the match the second half fitness levels eventually began to tell, as a younger, fitter opposition began to impose themselves on the game. Louis and Ellis Pickering making their 2nd appearance ran their socks off and, Ellis in particular, was unlucky not to be awarded a penalty flick when a clumsy challenge denied him a goal scoring opportunity. R&I sensed there were more goals to be had and pushed the U’s defence further and further back. A mini collapse gifted the visitors three soft goals and with the game almost over a further three were added to their second half tally.