Redbridge 3 - 0 City

Cambridge City spent the afternoon in Barkingside as they travelled to Redbridge for their latest Isthmian League North Division fixture. Redbridge were hoping to add to their win on Wednesday night as a late goal gave the Motormen all 3 points against Downhan Town. City were in FA Trophy action from last week, beating Essex side Bowers & Pitsea, 3-0.

City were hoping to make a change to their away league form, with 0 points from each of their first 2 games. Redbridge had 1 win and 1 loss, with 5 goals both scored and conceded.

The kick-off was delayed by 15 minutes because the officials had turned up late, and it soon appeared that City's defence were late too. As little as 3 minutes had been played when Ayodeji Olukoga beat the offside trap and then slammed the ball home, beating James Philp with no questions asked.

City had started slow and it wasn't getting better as Soumen Nandi and Olukoga teamed up to allow Olukoga with a strike that sailed harmlessly over the bar.

3 minutes later and Olukoga was on his own 25 yards from goal when he decided to take a pop at goal, the goalscorer's effort flew hide and wide.

City had their first proper opportunity after 13 minutes when they were awarded a free-kick just outside the 18-yard area. It was a choice between Jack Thompson and Samrai Gebrai and Thompson's effort was claimed comfortably by Samuel Nwabuko.

Redbridge had their own free-kick after 19 minutes. Jack Chawner whipped in a cross that was only just headed wide from the far post.

With 22 minutes gone George Smith was handed a chance on a plate when Nwabuko was too casual in possession and gifted the ball to the City striker. Nwabuko recovered well and thwarted Smith from making a lasting impact.

With chances both ends proving fruitless, City had a perfect opportunity to score an equaliser when Jamie Dicks took on a ball from the break and sent in a glorious delivery to the back post. Smith connected with the header but it spun wide.

3 minutes later and it became 2-0. A long free-kick found Solomon Ogunwomoju at the back post, the first effort was blocked by Philp but the rebound fell kindly for Ogunwomoju who made no mistake a second time.

Not long after saw not only Redbridge looking to cause more damage, but also saw the heavens open. Soumen Nandi had broken through from a City attack, threaded the ball out to Malachi Napa who viewed Ogunwomoju in his sights and crossed for his teammate to score, only for Ogunwomoju to knock his shot wide.

Just before half-time saw Joseph Johnson wander through City's defence and lay on Ogunwomoju to score. Fortunately for the Lilywhites, Ogunwomoju had just strayed offside.

City had a corner right at the end of the 1^st half, a corner that Nwabuko claimed easily. This came shortly after Jack Thompson limped off for a knock and had to be replaced by newbie, and returning Redbridge midfielder, Eddie Carrington.

After last week's 2^nd half performance against Bowers & Pitsea some of the City supporters felt confident going into it and it started in a similar vein. Michael Bareck and George Smith combined well in an attack that lead to a City free-kick. With no Thompson on the pitch the responsibility fell to Alex Warman. The midfielder's effort went just wide off the left-hand post, hitting the net supporter on the way out.

The next major opportunity came after 54 minutes when Samrai Gebrai created his own opportunity after making space smartly, but his cross-cum-shot sailed over.

After 58 minutes Redbridge had the ball in the final third, a spell of good play by Napa and Karl Kayembe allowed Nandi to fin the space and send in a cross that Ogunwomoju aimed for goal and saw Philp's frame come in and save and keep the score at 2-0.

Another smart play saw Chawner again find space and a cross was aimed at Ogunwomoju again, this time he mistimed his header and missed the ball completely.

With Jamie Dicks and Napa having a confrontation that resulted in both players receiving a booking, the forthcoming Redbridge free-kick was picked up by Johnson who then whipped in a tantalising delivery for Napa to just head over.

With 13 minutes left, Redbridge put the game to bed. A quick free-kick by Olamiji Ayoola came to Ogunwomoju on the left-hand side. The was then sent across the face of goal and Napa was waiting to poke into the empty net to score his 2^nd goal in two matches, and ended the match as a contest.

Ogunwomoju wasn't finished and was looking for his 2^nd goal of the game when a clearance fell kindly for him in the final third. He made his way into the penalty area but Philp was there to make the save and deny him his goal.

Solomon Ofori then forced Nwabuko into a save after being sent through by Dicks but the offside flag had been raised, making the save unnecessary.

There was enough time for Napa to roll a shot agonisingly wide and then the full time whistle blew with City slumping to a 3-0 defeat, their 4^th defeat of the season and their 3^rd loss in succession away from home in the league.

City will host 2^nd place high-flyers Maldon & Tiptree on Tuesday 16^th, hoping for better fortunes after a loss that leaves the Lilywhites just 1 place above the relegation zone.

Connor Taylor-Creek