First a record breaking run in the FA Cup now more of the same in the Trophy as City reached the Fourth Round for the first time in their history as they cruised to victory at the Oakside Stadium.

The Motormen appointed former Fulham goalkeeper Jim Stannard as their manager on Thursday and he made six changes from the side that slumped to a 5-0 home defeat at the hands of Sutton United last Saturday, the new boss introducing Lee Newcombe, Ricky Alexander, Andrew Julius, Greg Lincoln, Tristian Toney and Alex Tiese. The extent of the recent upheaval at the Barkingside club illustrated by the fact that only Greg Lincoln and Jay Murray survive from the team that started the league game at Milton Road in September.

Robbie Simpson shields the ball

Whilst Gary Roberts was able to welcome back Craig Pope (from suspension) and Dale Binns (from injury) Jon Stevenson was unavailable having picked up a knock in Tuesday’s Cambridgeshire Invitation Cup victory at Wisbech. To the pleasant surprise of the travelling contingent Richard Scott, absent since before Christmas, was named amongst the substitutes.

The home side were first to come to terms with the less than perfect playing surface and carved out a chance in the opening minutes that should have seen them take the lead. Ricky Alexander capitalised on some poor covering down the City left to play the ball into Greg Lincoln but with only Duncan Roberts to beat the former Arsenal midfielder produced a weak finish which failed to extend the ‘keeper.

City countered through Lee Chaffey whose angled centre from the left picked out the run of Josh Simpson who headed powerfully over the bar.

The game was still only five minutes old when Redbridge spurned another golden opportunity, this time Lincoln turned provided as his astute through ball sent Alex Tiese in behind the City rearguard but attempting to lob the giant Roberts was the wrong option and the Lilywhites’ custodian dragged the ball out of the sky.

Had Redbridge taken either of these chances then the outcome of this cup tie may well have been different. As it was City settled and without ever producing football of the highest quality (largely due to the conditions) began to exert a stranglehold on the game.

The returning Dale Binns served notice of City’s attacking threat when he rounded off a penetrating run with a low centre driven in towards the far post where only the timely intervention of Andrew Julius averted the danger.

As the Lilywhites probed down the opposite flank Matt Robinson connected sweetly with Carl Williams’ centre and sent a fierce volley dipping over the bar as Lee Newcombe looked on anxiously.

The roles were reversed three minutes later to good effect as the same two players combined for the opening goal. Matt Robinson delivered an in-swinging centre from wide on the City left, the ball was allowed to travel all the way across the face of goal to the feet of a grateful Williams who took advantage of a complete breakdown in communications between goalkeeper and defenders to slide home at the far post.

Matt Robinson gets in a solid challenge on Redbridge's Djoumih Sangare

In the Lilywhites next meaningful attack they doubled their advantage with the best goal of the afternoon. It was fitting that Robinson and Josh Simpson, two players who have been hugely influential in City’s improved showings since their festive blank, were involved. A neat one-two saw the Academy midfielder lay the ball off to the former Ipswich youngster before continuing his run into the box. Robinson returned the compliment by delivering a defence splitting pass allowing Simpson to draw Newcombe before guiding home off the inside of the post.

Boosted by his goal Simpson, who seems to get better with every game, then opened up the hosts with a perfectly weighted cross-field ball into the path of Carl Williams whose early centre caused more panic as Shane Mangadoza headed behind when his goalkeeper looked well placed to collect. The fact that the Newcome is one of seven different glovemen to don the green jersey this season no doubt a contributory factor to the confusion.

Any hopes The Motormen had of mounting a second half revival were dashed two minutes before the break. Mangadoza felled Robbie Simpson near to the half way line on the City left. Lee Chaffey hoisted the resultant free kick into the heart of the Redbridge box where Matt Langston rose head and shoulders above the defence to nod down to an unmarked Robbie Simpson who had the simple task of heading home from close range. 3-0 and City were in complete control.

Jim Stannard made one change at the interval, introducing Bobby Dinnen at the expense of Yohance Lewis but there was to be no change to the pattern of the game.

In contrast to the hosts, City’s strongest back four, playing together for the first time in over two months, were rock solid. Craig Pope picked up where he left off before his four game ban linking superbly with Carl Williams and it was from the former Barnet right back’s quickly taken throw that Williams beat Dinnen and raced into the area but elected to cross when a shot seemed like the more obvious option and the chance was gone.

With a heavy January schedule still ahead and both first choice strikers out injured Gary Roberts took the opportunity to rest Robbie Simpson and give Michael Gash an extended run out.

Glenn Fuff produces a fine clearing header

With just over an hour gone however the hosts were thrown an unlikely life-line when Craig Pope was somewhat harshly penalised on the edge of the City box. Greg Lincoln, the Motormen’s best player by some distance, stepped up and played a low ball into the centre of the six yard box, deceived possibly by a combination of the flight of the shot and Jay Murray’s dummy run, Duncan Roberts mistimed his dive and allowed the ball to pass under him.

In the immediate aftermath of the goal Gary Roberts looked to consolidate City’s lead by introducing some fresh legs into midfield. Alex Fiddes replacing Rob Miller to the obvious delight of the stadium announcer who introduced the former Oakside Stadium favourite as ‘The Firecracker’.

City steadied the ship and retained control whilst threatening only sporadically on the break. On one such occasion Craig Pope combined with Michael Gash down the right to set up Dale Binns who sent a low drive arrowing towards the bottom corner of the net and forcing Newcombe into a very good save down to his left.

Another slick passing move, this time involving Pope, Chaffey and Simpson saw Matt Robinson released but Newcombe again did well coming quickly off his line to collect at the feet of the on-rushing striker.

With some five minutes remaining City restored their three goal advantages when skipper Djoumih Sangare felled Josh Simpson wide on the City right. In what was almost a carbon copy of the third goal Craig Pope delivered a perfect centre, Matt Langston rose highest leaving only Newcombe, deserted by his defenders, between the Lilywhites’ captain and the net as his towering header rippled the back of the net.

Josh Simpson was immediately withdrawn allowing Richard Scott to break himself back into first team action during the closing minutes.

With normal time as good as up the gloss was taken off an otherwise highly satisfactory afternoon when Glen Fuff twisted awkwardly when turning and fell to the ground in obvious pain. The imposing centre half, who along with Craig Pope had been City’s outstanding performer on the day, carried from the field suffering from an injury that is likely to sideline him for several weeks.

During the four minutes of added time City managed to notch a further goal, the third time they have scored five times in away game this season and the second in a week. More quality work by Pope and Williams down the right created a shooting opportunity for Michael Gash who was wrestled to the ground by Sangare right in front of referee Smith who had no hesitation in pointing to the penalty spot, Richard Scott making no mistake as he fired high to the left of Newcombe to complete the rout.