The Met got off to a great start taking the lead within the opening 40 seconds of the game as Jonte Smith tucked home from close range. It was a nightmare start for the Motormen and things were sadly not going to get better.

Six minutes later the Met doubled their lead. Craig Brown was able to get the better of Redbridge’s left-back Randy Kaza out on the flank and his cross was spectacularly finished on the turn by Howard Newton. Michael Bowditch in goal could only watch the ball sail into the net.

Despite being 2-0 down early on, Redbridge’s heads didn’t go down and good work by Nana Asamoah helped win a corner after 20 minutes. The ball was whipped straight into the six-yard box into the direction of Shane Lemard. Unfortunately the ball didn’t fall cleanly to the defender nor his team-mates Jordan Watson and Lee Newton with the ball somehow being hacked away to safety by the visitors.

Steve Portway was then forced into a first-half substitution just after 30 minutes as striker Newton went off complaining of feeling unwell with young forward Stephen Ikumelo coming on as his replacement.

If losing Newton was a blow to Portway, a further blow came two minutes before the break when the Met added a third. Police’s keeper Jamie Butler’s long clearance up field looked like it was going to be a fairly comfortable catch for Bowditch in goal. However the youngster misjudged the bounce of the ball allowing Chris Bourne to nod the ball past the keeper and into the net.

To their credit Redbridge came out after the break well. Watson was impressing up front and two minutes into the half saw a snap-shot go wide after cutting in from the right.

After making all of his substitutions Mets’ manager Jimmy Cooper was forced to play the last quarter of the game with 10 men as Smith – on loan from League 1 side Crawley – was forced off with an injury. That didn’t set back the Met though as they added two goals late on through Newton who slotted in Billy Croch’s cross from the by-line before Alan Tatt beat Bowditch from a tight angle after doing well to chest down a cross from Bourne.

Whilst it was another disappointing result at home for Redbridge, there should be no shame losing to a side a league above who took their chances. A young team will learn from that as a result and work harder as a result to put things right on the pitch. Facing Harlow Town at home next weekend in the League is the perfect setting for the team to bounce back.

Click here for Adam D's interview with our joint-manager Steve Portway from after the game.