Redbridge 2-3 Stow

Stow picked up their first win in six games with a comprehensive victory over neighbours Redbridge, despite the scoreline perhaps suggesting otherwise. Boss Nicky Ironton shuffled his pack, with Dan Green making his first league start of the season and returning duo Bilal Sayoud and Ollie Sotoyinbo both going straight into the starting line-up.

But it could have been a different story, had Warren Kayembe’s second-minute header been a couple of inches lower; in the end the Redbridge forward’s effort clipped the crossbar, and Joseph Elliott curled the rebound over.

This was an early wake-up call from the home side, and it spurred Stow into action. George Ironton’s long throw was flicked on by Jordon Watson into a dangerous area. Both Sayoud and Demaray Anyadike had shots blocked before the ball eventually fell back to Ironton on the edge of the box who drilled a curling effort past Connor Wheatley who was glued to the spot.

For the opening ten minutes, Kayembe was finding plenty of room down Stow’s right, but that threat soon evaporated as Stow gained control of the game.

The lead was doubled with half an hour played when Sayoud did brilliantly to find space down the left and cross perfectly for Anyadike at the back post. Stow’s opposite winger seemed to misjudge the ball and head away from goal when practically on the goal-line, but his header was straight to Adalberto Pinto who lashed the ball home from eight yards.

Stow continued to press in the second half, and were rewarded with a third goal on the hour mark when Anaydike threaded a perfect pass to Sotoyinbo ten yards out. The returning forward’s shot was slightly deflected causing it to loop over a stranded Wheatley and in.

It should have been game over from there. Anyadike, Watson and Sotoyinbo all had chances to further extend the lead, but a combination of some wasteful finishing and good goalkpeeing kept the score at three.

And that wastefulness almost came back to haunt Stow, as in the 88th minute the ball dropped to Oscar Shelvey-Negus who hooked the ball over Nolan and in to give his side a chance. Four minutes later the odds of a comeback shifted further, when Lewis Clark lashed home a half-volley from six yards to make it 3-2.

Redbridge threw everyone at the Stow goal, including goalkeeper Wheatley, but after seven minutes of added time the referee blew, giving Stow a well-earned three points and a welcome return to winning ways.