REDBRIDGE must feel they crossed paths with a black cat on their way to Rookery Hill on Saturday.
The ultimately heavy defeat is not a reflection of the match, particularly the first half which they dominated and which ultimately turned on a rejected penalty claim that might have seen them go in two goals to the good.
However, referee Ian Fissendon waved away the claims after Alex Reed was felled in the box and, within a minute, Rocks had drawn level.
High-flying East Thurrock looked strangely out of sorts and were outmuscled by the visitors, who arrived at Rookery Hill as they left it, without a point this season.
Redbridge were quickly on the offensive and it was no real surprise when Tom Stephen smashed the ball in off the crossbar after a mistake by Ryan Sammons after just seven minutes.
Redbridge were still in the ascendency when they failed to get the all important penalty on 32 minutes and two minutes later a cross into the box from Sammons was headed powerfully home by Neil Richmond.
The second half was a different story altogether. East Thurrock came out and dominated from start to finish, sweeping the ball forward in great style and being rewarded when Max Cornhill smashed the ball home from close range after a neat flick from Richmond on five minutes.
Redbridge’s new signing, Kevin McLeod, thundered a shot just wide but there was no stopping East Thurrock who grabbed a third on 62minutes when Jimmy Webb got on the end of an angled cross and drove the ball in.
Rocks’ fourth, five minutes from time, will have only added to Redbridge’s disappointment with the officials as Richmond was yards offside when he received the ball and raced goalwards, unselfishly laying the ball into the path of Kye Ruel who will rarely score an easier goal.
Redbridge’s disappointment was compounded a couple of minutes later when McLeod thumped a free kick against the upright to deny them even a consolation.
