MGBSFL PREMIER DIVISION
OAKWOOD A 0 REDBRIDGE JEWISH CARE A 1

Jon Jacobs insists it was the result rather than the performance that mattered as a solitary strike from Dean Nyman helped Redbridge maintain their winning start against title rivals Oakwood.

In a game switched last minute from the 3G of Nicholas Breakspear to the school grass pitch, it went from a free-flowing game to a really scrappy game.

The contest hinged on a five-minute spell in the second half where Oakwood missed a very good chance, as their forward beat both Ryan Cole and Danny Hakimi for probably the only time but sent a wild shot in which sailed high and wide.

The game was very physical with both teams happy to dig in where needed but it was not a game being played on the floor so a "very un-Redbridge performance" was being played and the "ballers" in the team being bypassed. It was being left to Sam McCarthy, Danny Hakimi, Zack Neiman, Ryan Cole, Danny Berg and the work-rate of Dean Nyman to give Redbridge a chance.

Half-time came with the match goalless and both teams competing very strongly to gain a foothold in the game. The second half began pretty much as the first half had ended with Redbridge struggling to get through the barricades of the Oakwood defence who were winning the battle.

Redbridge just needed half a chance to gain that foothold and it came from a forward player with a piece of instinct that came from years of experience. The ball broke and Nyman chased down Jonny Blain in the Oakwood goal, he was under a little bit of pressure but managed to miss his kick completely and let NYMAN in and he caressed the ball in to the net with a shot of real purpose and guile.

RJC boss Jon Jacobs told JC Sport: "This is a game that Redbridge would have lost last season but there is a Plan B now with players more than happy to mix it when needed.

"The pitch didn’t help either team as it was bobbly but we will take the win, in the knowledge that you can’t play champagne football every week."

Oakwood joint-manager Dan Kristall felt they visitors "probably edged a tight game where chances were few and far between".

Kristall went on to say: "We don't pick out individuals. Blainy is too good a keeper and he kept us in many games last season and will do so again this time around.

"From a team perspective, we absolutely must begin to be more ruthless in the big games against fellow title contenders. This is the only way that we will have a chance of winning the league which I believe is more open than ever this season.

"Teams will take points from each other, so we must ensure that next time around we win this sort of game by the odd scrappy goal in the way Redbridge did.

"In terms of our general performance, I thought we defended superbly and frustrated their passing game. I felt our final ball into the box could have been better and that is something we must improve on.

"We worked hard to get back into the game at 1-0 down but couldn’t quite find a way through. I don’t think Jon will disagree with me by saying that a draw was the fair result.

"Credit to Redbridge, they were difficult to break down and took their chance when it came.

"Don’t write us off yet, we will be in the title hunt at the end of the season and we look forward to the return trip to essex where we will also be able to welcome back 6-7 players that were not involved."