Dave Sadler’s stunning strike secured a hard earned victory for City as they avenged last season’s FA Cup defeat at the hands of Redbridge and collect three points that sees them soar to fourth in the table.

With Paul Fewings still sidelined by the injury that forced him out of the action at Newport on Saturday, his replacement, and scorer of the match winning goal, Robbie Simpson, retained his place in an otherwise unchanged line-up.

The Motormen came into the game on the back of successive victories, the most recent of which was recorded at Sutton on Saturday courtesy of goals by Jay Murray, Glenn Poole and Yohance Lewis. Murray, coming on as an early substitute for the injured Elis Remy, the only change from the weekends’ starters.

After a tentative opening period visiting custodian Ashley Harrison was the first ‘keeper to see meaningful action as he raced Sadler to Carl Williams’ through ball, arriving narrowly ahead of the City striker and bundling unconvincingly into touch. From the quickly taken throw in that resulted an advanced Lee Chaffey cut inside from the left and fired across the face of goal.

Another good run by Chaffey in the Lilywhites’ next attack created an opening for Richard Scott whose long range shot was deflected behind for a corner. As Redbridge countered Craig Edwards found himself in space some twenty yards out but fired over. Play switched immediately to the other end as Robbie Simpson guided Alan Calton’s place kick into the path of Dale Binns who fired across the face of goal.

As City settled to their task they retained the ball to good effect and probed patiently at the visitors’ back line. Good build up play involving Williams and Rob Miller saw the ball worked wide to Binns who crossed low for Simpson, but the teenager’s shot on the turn lacked the power to trouble Harrison.

More good progress down the City left saw Chaffey’s deep cross met by Binns forcing Harrison to palm clear at the expense of a corner, Dave Sadler heading narrowly off target from Richard Scott’s delivery.

Midway through the opening period City received a timely reminder of the need to score when dominating play as Redbridge began to pose a threat of their own. Firstly Alex Fiddes’ measured pass sent Murray clear on the right, only the timely intervention of Chaffey halting his progress. Moments later the visitors came within inches of snatching the lead. Almost out of nothing Deji Davies found the ball at his feet some twenty yards out, turning he realised he had the space to unleash a fierce right footed drive which scorched past a flying Alan Calton striking the inside of his left hand upright and bouncing across the six yard area and away from danger.

With the Motormen on top City were then indebted to Calton for keeping the score sheet blank. Greg Lincoln beat and then accelerated away from Robbie Simpson before playing a neat ball into the feet of Murray whose first time drive produced a fine block from the Lilywhites nineteen year old ‘keeper.

The importance of that save was illustrated four minutes later when City grabbed the lead. A neat one-two between Sadler and Simpson sent the former Norwich City youngster clear in the box with only Harrison to beat, however, to the bemusement of most of the crowd, Mr Bull pulled play back to award City a free kick on the edge of the box, booking Lincoln for the offence that led to the stoppage in the process. Frustration as Richard Scott’s drive cannoned off the wall soon turned to celebration as Williams scampered after the rebound and whipped in a cross from the right that found the predatory Sadler on hand to force the ball home at the far post.

As has sometimes been the case this season, City wobbled a little in the immediate aftermath of taking the lead. As the visitors worked the ball neatly out to the right wing Fiddes hit a speculative curling effort that had Calton stretching athletically to palm onto the crossbar. The expectant Murray seemed to be ideally placed to finish the job but he mis-cued horribly from close range sending the ball spinning away from goal.

City still looked less than secure and it came as no real surprise when Redbridge snatched a leveller with only two minutes of the half remaining. With little apparent danger a mix-up between Calton and Craig Pope resulted in City conceding an unnecessary corner when the worst the home defence should have given away was a throw. Allan McLeod’s near post delivery gave Davies the opportunity to rise and make life difficult for Calton who failed to connect properly with an attempted punch allowing Richard Halle to scramble the ball home from inside the six yard box.

Honours even at the break.

City continued to show the greater intent after the interval when first Simpson set up Sadler but the former Hinckley striker needed too long to get over the ball allowing McLeod to get a foot in and effect a partial clearance as far as Williams who shot wide. Richard Scott then played Simpson in with an intelligent pass that dropped invitingly over the tall striker’s right shoulder but there was no finish to match as the ball was dragged across the face of goal.

Visiting boss Craig Edwards then made his first change, introducing Ben Lewis at the expense of Chris Perkins. Gary Roberts soon countered with a change of his own, Rob Miller making way for Shane Huke.

The second half had been very low key in comparison to the lively opening period, however after sixty five minutes that all changed. As City cleared long Dave Sadler killed the dipping ball stone dead with his first touch. A lightening turn saw the Lilywhites’ joint leading scorer spin away from Halle, immediately gaining a yard on the former Grays’ defender. Running diagonally towards goal Sadler then unleashed a twenty five yard left footed rocket that was destined for the back of the net from the moment it left his boot, despite Harrison’s acrobatic attempt to keep it out. The best goal scored at Milton Road for some considerable time.

Craig Edwards responded with an immediate change, Saturday’s goalscorer Yohance Lewis replacing Deji Davies.

City were by no means home and dry however as Edwards demonstrated as he fired wide when centrally placed some twenty yards out. Murray and Poole then combined to send Alex Fiddes clear on the right but with the former Heybridge midfielder poised to pull the trigger he was thwarted by an expertly timed Lee Chaffey challenge. There then followed a heart stopping moment for City’s left back as he intercepted McLeod’s deep cross, sending his clearing header back across the face of Alan Calton’s goal with the ‘keeper stranded.

With seven minutes remaining Redbridge were denied a leveller as they carved City open with a superb counter-attack. Showing great strength Murray rode challenges from Huke and Pope wide on the left before angling a pinpoint pass through the heart of the Lilywhites’ back line into the path of Fiddes whose first time drive seemed destined for the bottom corner of the net before Calton flung himself full length at the shot making a magnificent stop and forcing the ball behind for a corner.

Nerve ends continued to jangle as Huke was carded for halting Edwards’ progress on the edge of the area. Greg Lincoln’s kick was charged down into the path of Halle whose spiralling follow up was grabbed gratefully by Calton from beneath his crossbar.

There were no further alarms and City clung on to secure their second win in four days as they continue to build on an outstanding start to the season.