Match report: Cambridge City 1-1(4-3pens) Redbridge

It was the opening round of the FA Trophy for Cambridge City as they took on Redbridge on a showery Saturday afternoon. The Lilywhites were coming into the match after a resounding 4-0 away victory against Walthamstow on Tuesday night. Redbridge entered the game after their FA Cup run ended early last Saturday, following defeat to Southern League Division One Central's London Lions, 3-2.

There was a solemn note prior to kick-off as a minute's applause was observed after former Lilywhite Quevin Castro tragically died at the age of just 25 during a pre-season friendly in Portugal.

It was the visitors who had the first chance after three minutes; a loose ball was collected by Bruno Tavares a few yards outside City's penalty area. James Philp was equal to the long range shot, getting down comfortably to save. Another chance came three minutes later, this time for the hosts, Alex Warman hitting the woodwork after a throw eventually came to the midfield man.

Warman was in again after 11 minutes, and this time it resulted in the opening goal. After a corner was curled into the area, a goalmouth scramble followed and Warman reacted quickest to stab the ball home and give City the lead. Warman was in action again five minutes later. Charlie Norman received the ball after Warman and Fletcher Toll sent the ball out to the wing, and Norman's cross finally allowed Freddie Hockey to take a strike at goal, but the forward's effort was too high and it sailed over the bar.

Redbridge were having a quiet half up to this point, but after 22 minutes, Pedro Carvalho found himself on the left wing and also in an advanced position. Carvalho's drilled shot was dragged just wide of the near post.

Hockey was in the thick of the action within the next few minutes. A corner came first, Lewis Greene punched away the cross and this allowed Hockey to take a shot which was fired over the crossbar. Toll then pounced on a poor pass just a minute later. He fed Hockey through but City's no. 11 rolled his effort wide. Just before half time, Norman took a shot at goal after Reece Harris found him with a cross. Nathan Inga came to the rescue for the visitors, as did Greene shortly afterwards, saving one-handed from Harris.

As the second half started, the heavens opened as heavy rain swept through. Redbridge had the first chance of the second half, just like in the first. Captain Jack Chawner took a free-kick after six minutes of the half had been played, but the strike flew over the bar.

City themselves had a free-kick a few minutes later. Jack Thompson sent in the cross and Toll's header was saved by Greene. Tavares then broke away the other end and Carvalho had his shot saved by Philp. Jaiden Babalola and Hockey worked together to allow the latter to move into a crossing position. Hockey's squared pass was aimed at Toll, whose shot struck the outside of the near post. Charlie Royle had an opportunity to double City's lead with 73 minutes gone. Lewis Hayes was in good position to feed Royle, but the striker's shot was sent just wide of the post.

Redbridge then had a corner just two minutes later. Ramiah Mills headed over after he connected with a flick-on from the cross. Redbridge continued to push for the leveller but City kept parrying the attacks from the visitors. However, with injury time running out, Redbridge finally hit City with a sucker punch. Carvalho had broken free and was bearing down on the hosts' goal. And, although his cross was blocked, Carvalho had a second chance to punish the hosts and he did exactly that as his low shot beat Philp and nestled into the bottom-left corner and the scores were level.

The full-time whistle blew soon afterwards and a draw was the result. As per FA Trophy rules, the match went straight to penalties. And it was City who prevailed through the shoot-out as Philp turned out to be the hero, saving both Philip Brown-Bampoe's and Mekael Williams' penalties. The win allows City to progress into the Second Qualifying round of the FA Trophy, and it gives the team good confidence when they travel to Suffolk to take on AFC Sudbury on Bank Holiday Monday in their next league fixture.

Many thanks to Connor Taylor-Creek for the excellent match report.