Gary Elphick
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In a disappointing performance the Saints lost ground in the fight to avoid relegation losing to Redbridge, who, following well publicised budget cuts and a severe trimming of their playing staff, have themselves struggled over the past six weeks slipping to 20th in the table. Among their ranks are former Saints assistant manager Richard Thomas, and ex-City triallists Lloyd Opara and Julian Edwards.
After the pulsating match at League leaders Grays on Saturday, City boss Colin Lippiatt opted for the same formation and the only change saw new signing James Gibson, formerly of Crystal Palace, replace the suspended Dean Hooper at the centre of the back five.
Both sides were slow to settle. City looked the more threatening with headers from Adam Parker and then Lee Clarke forcing sharp saves from the visitors keeper Alex O'Reilly in the opening 20 minutes. For their part, the visitors have pace up front, and on 27 minutes, swift interpaly between Julian Edwards and Yohance Lewis created an opening but Paul Bastock was alert to the danger and came smartly off his line to smother the shot.
Redbridge opened the scoring on 33 minutes when, after a sustained spell of pressure, Craig Edwards headed on an Opara cross to find Julian Edwards who shot powerfully home from 15 yards. Minutes later, the Motormen were denied a second when Bastock comfortably saved a mis-directed header from the impressive centre-back Chris Wild.
The Saints drew level in the last seconds of the half. An Adam Parker effort was deflected for a corner, taken by Scott Cousins, to be met by a powerful header into the centre of the net by new boy Gary Elphick making his Clarence Park debut.
The first chance of the second half fell within moments to Matt Nolan, who gathered a pass from a quickly taken free-kick by hann and the striker forced another sharp save from O'Reilly. The visitors re-took the lead on 50 minutes when Thomas gathered the ball on the half-way line and advanced with the entire City defence backing away covering an anticipated pass. The midfielder, without a goal for over 2 years including his 44 game spell for The Saints continued his run to the edge of the box and shot firmly home
between two defenders.
Chances fell at each end but both keepers were equal to their task. Desperate for points, Lippiatt made a triple substitution on 70 minutes which included danger man Ben Walshe, still not fully fit but returning from injury. Walshe showed his pedigree immediately with 3 super crosses in quick succession, none of which was able to be converted despite the best efforts of the tireless Lee Clarke.
City drew level for the second time on 81 minutes when Clarke headed home from a Hann corner, the N. Ireland U21 striker's 15 goal of the season.
Both sides pressed but 3 minutes later, the visitors scored the decisive goal. Opara, showing pace not seen by the home fans in his two outings in a City shirt earlier in the season, left his marker trailing before sending a cross into the area where Julian Edwards calmly laid the ball back to Yohance Lewis who made no mistake from 15 yards.
A bad night for City and their misery was compounded just before the final whistle when Scott Cousins was dismissed by the referee for the talented left-back's second bookable offence.
Report by Tom Lewis |
