Heavy Defeat Sends us out of Errington Cup

Redbridge suffered a 5-0 defeat at Walthamstow as our Errington Challenge Cup journey ends at the first hurdle.

Redbridge made the short journey to Wadham Lodge for their opening match of the new year as they faced Walthamstow in the 2nd round of the Errington Challenge Cup.

Ricky Eaton was in the dugout for the final time after he had stepped down as 1st team manager 24 hours earlier and had new manager Micky Wetherall alongside him overlooking proceedings.

Coming straight into the side were three new signings in Abraham Jairette, Dean Hall and Kai Heather whilst a fourth in Connor Okus was on the bench.

The opening stages were even Redbridge did go close having an effort cleared off the line before the returning Calvin Poku had shot saved by Will Hunt in the Walthamstow goal.

The home came back up the other end and Reece Conway whipped over a dangerous ball into the penalty box which just evaded Leon McKenzie at the far post who was lurking with intent.

The home side did take the lead soon after when a free kick was curled in by Christian Owusu from the left into a crowded box where ex Redbridge defender Hussainou Jaffa got the decisive last touch to poke home.

The front two for Walthamstow were causing problems for the Redbridge defence and they teamed up well together resulting in McKenzie to get a shot in from a wide position but thankfully Lewis Greene got down well to make the save.

It should have then been a second goal for Walthamstow when Dwade James was put through on goal and with just Greene to beat he could only manage to find the post before the ball then rolled back across goal and out to safety, a massive let off for Redbridge.

Redbridge tried their luck with a long-range effort from Liam Burgess, but his attempt went high and wide failing to trouble Hunt.

The home side continued to dominate proceedings and Marcus Bowers then tried his luck which Greene could only parry away before the ball was finally cleared before the half time whistle was blown.

It never took long for Walthamstow to double their advantage when Redbridge conceded a penalty after a handball and up stepped Owusu who made no mistake from the spot.

McKenzie and Bowers had further chances to extend the advantage before Redbridge had a chance to pull one back when Larry Asare found himself in front of goal but unable to stretch a leg he pushed the ball over the line using his hand which the referee did not take so kind to and in return showed the yellow card.

Owusu soon fired home a third for the hosts when he struck from range for his second of the contest before things went from bad to worse for Redbridge when skipper Remi Nelson blocked the run of James intentionally, so the referee decided and with that showed a second yellow card reducing them down to 10 men.

The resulting free kick was taken by ex-Redbridge defender Vinny Murphy who only recently made the move to Stow and he found James who played a nice one two passing movement into substitute Alejandro Seone-Barber who found the bottom corner.

James put the final nail in the coffin when he waltzed into the area before rounding Greene and finding an empty net to make up for his earlier miss.

Redbridge had their best chance at the death when Asare showed good skill to beat a defender before smashing an effort past Hunt and against the bar but there was to be no consolation on a depressing evening for the Motormen.

Walthamstow now host Stansted in the Quarter Finals whilst Redbridge may well see this result as a blessing in disguise and now able to fully concentrate on their league campaign starting Saturday at home to Takeley where new manager Micky Wetherall will be looking for a response to this result and hopefully three points.

report by Adam Silver