Match Report: 1st Team 2-2 Redbridge Elite (Sat 26th Sep)
Forest United secured a 2-2 draw against Redbridge Elite in this friendly match on Saturday.
In this final friendly match before their first league match of the new season, Forest United sought to cast an eye over all the players eager to claim a place in the starting eleven for the league match the following Saturday. Redbridge Elite, who will also be playing in the Premier Divsion of the Ilford & District Football League this season proved to be tough opponents.
The first half saw Forest Utd enjoy greater control of the ball & their early attacks created problems for the Redbridge Elite defence who had failed to settle down. A great ball played over the top by Samuel Smith, set Michael Powell racing clear of the Redbridge Elite defence & he was able to slide the ball pass the keeper to score the opening goal. As the first half worn on Redbridge Elite grew in confidence & were soon creating some good attacking chances. Forest Utd were caught out as they failed to clear the ball from around their 18 yard box & some good one touch passes played in a Redbridge Elite player who low shot beat Krishna Yellappa in the Forest Utd goal. The first half ended with the scores level at 1-1.
The second half was nearly a repeat of the first one. Both teams created chances with Christian Pinnock hitting the crossbar from 35 yards out, while Redbridge Elite wasted some good chances as well. A determine run down the left from Smith led to him crossing the ball into the box & Micha Gentle was on hand to collect the ball & smash his shot low into the corner & beyond the Redbridge Elite keeper. But Forest Utd failed to hold onto their lead & Redbridge Elite levelled the scores once again. Right towards the end of the match, a Redbridge Elite goal was ruled out for offside, despite the fact the linesman had failed to raise his flag. This decision incensed the Redbridge Elite players & led to some heated exchanges at the end of the match, with both teams having to settle with a 2-2 draw.
So Forest Utd were able to use this last pre-season friendly to enable those members of the squad who had yet to play regularly to stake a claim for a place in the starting line-up for the first league match of the season at home to FC Barolle. The quetion is, who has done enough to secure a place?