Redbridge hosted Eton Manor at a wet and blustery Oakside in the 1st Qualifying Round of the Buildbase FA Vase. It was the first time the home side had been involved in this competition since last being an Essex Senior League side back in the 1997/98 season.

Returning to the Redbridge line up were Reside Coxi-Sebastfao and Jay Knight who were regular members of last season’s Ryman North squad. Winger Coxi-Sebastfao had the first attempt on goal when he picked up a pass from Captain Adam Hunt but his effort went wide of Sid Stojic in goal.

Eton Manor soon after had their first chance when Lewis Hagland fed Joe Bricknell and his deflected shot needed turning over by Jake Mernaga in the Redbridge goal.
They came even closer moments later when panic in the home defence saw the ball fall at the feet of Kadeem Brightly but his effort flew over the bar.

The away side were on top and from a Redbridge corner they broke up field and Josh Sykes beat Tyron Thomas to the ball finding himself through on goal but with just the goalkeeper to beat Mernaga got down well to make the save.

The pressure finally told when Eton Manor finally scored on 24 minutes , good work by ex Motorman Ben Bradbury out wide saw him release the ball to Kingsley Davidson who was on hand to loop the ball home.

It was almost a second when the same player cut inside from the right wing stepping past two Redbridge defenders and when he seemed certain to score he fired his effort wide, It was a real let off for the home side.

Just before half time Redbridge got the lifeline they needed when good play by David Sangolo saw him cut inside from the right wing before finding Aron Gordon who rifled his shot first time past Stojic.

The first chance of the second period fell to the home side when a neat one two passing combination between Coxi Sebastfao and Jack Roult saw the young defender bearing down on goal but his effort laced any real pace.

Both sides now started to create chances as the match looked to swing from one way to another and the crowd were certainly not to know what lay ahead. Firstly On 59 minutes Eton Manor then went up field and regained their lead when a cross was poked home by Sykes.

The lead lasted just 10 minutes when Redbridge equalised and again it was Gordon on hand when he picked up a loose ball just outside the box and rifled home. The home side now looked most likely to get the winner and Hunt had two good efforts saved before his third attempt rebounded back off the upright. Further chances were spurned by Adelekan and Sangolo as the match seemed to be heading for a replay.

Many people inside the ground certainly including the Eton Manor bench were not aware of the new FA Vase rulings meaning a further 30 minutes of extra time would first have to be played before the game would go to a replay.

The first period of extra time saw Manor once again go in front and it was that man Bradbury who picked up the ball before delightfully curling his shot past Mernaga, it was a goal many Redbridge fans had seen him do in the past for the home side.

Redbridge refused to lay down and got themselves back into the game once again this time however fortunately through a goalkeeping error from Stojic who fumbled his catch allowing substitute Jacob Dingli the simple task of turning and passing the ball back into an empty net.

Into the 2nd period of extra time and for the first time in the game the pendulum swung the way of the home side who took the lead when a strong powerful run forward by Gordon released Hunt who fired under the body of the keeper.

Surely Redbridge would be able to see out the final five minutes of the match but alas no as defender Brightly found himself free in the box and connected superbly scoring probably the goal of his career leaving Mernaga with no chance clasping at thin air.

As the clock ticked down and the scores level at 4-4 it appeared that a replay would be on the cards but Redbridge got their winner when Coxi-Sebastfao Found himself through on goal before stepping around Stoic and poking home. It prompted jubilant scenes from the bench and this time the home side were able to hang on for the win and will now face Colney Heath in the next round of the competition.

Report by Adam Silver