Redbridge & Ilford 2 Colchester 1

NE14HOCKEY East League

Premier B

Redbridge & Illford 2 Colchester 1

An under strength Colchester slumped to a third consecutive league defeat as they handed the hosts their first points of the season.

With six regulars unavailable trough injury, illness and prior commitments, they travelled to Redbridge with the bear eleven and handed a first XI debut to defender Matt Foakes.

The first half was a dour affair with Redbridge shading the early possession, although Matt Brown should have given Colchester the lead after five minutes, but his weak effort was kept out by the home keeper.

Redbridge took the lead when Tim Wright was adjudged to make a deliberate foul in the circle. The home defender stepped up and made no mistake from the spot leaving Liam Phillips little chance.

Wright's afternoon soon got worse as he was shown a yellow card for the second consecutive week and was asked to leave the field. The hosts were also reduced to ten men when a clumsy tackle proved to the umpires disliking.

The visitors were soon on level terms when Matt Low smashed a short corner into the bottom corner making it 1-1 at the break.

The second half proved to be as equally turgid, with the hosts re-taking the lead when a short corner strike deflected of Wright's stick and looped over the helpless Phillips and into the net.

Colchester pressed forward in search of an equaliser, with Mark Thorogood at the heart of midfield prompting most attacks but their efforts were thwarted by the Redbridge defence and keeper.

Their best chances fell to Michael Pearce who went close on a couple of occasions but the home side held on for victory.

The Hills Residential man-of-the-match award went to Matt Foakes for a composed game in defence.

Colchester will be looking to stop to rot this Saturday when the entertain mid-table Pelicans to the Garrison Astro (12.30).