Redbridge met Ilford for the first time in an Essex Senior League fixture since the 1996/97 season.

Both sides were back in league action after wins in the FA Vase at the weekend where both needed extra time to proceed.

The first attempt came from the home side when good work from Coxi-Sebastfao found DJ Adelekan but his shot was off target.

Ex Redbridge manager Allan Fenn was in the away dugout and he almost saw his side take the lead when the lively Elias Armar-Tackie skipped past two challenges only to see his powerful drive go wide.

The motormen took the lead when a free kick from skipper Adam Hunt was whipped in and Adelekan rose highest to head past Chris Clark in goal.

The lead however only lasted for three minutes as Ilford came forward and good hold up play fro Armar-Tackie saw him lay the ball off to Sipho Mytanda who finished well to level the scores.

The pace of Armar-Tackie and Jones was causing the Redbridge back line problems and it was Jones who sped past Jack Roult to the ball but the young right back got back well to make the tackle.

Ilford were now on top and they soon took the lead when Dan Jones broke free and although he at first appeared to be fouled the referee sensibly allowed the advantage to be played which led to Armar-Tackie picking up the ball. He took one look up before superbly curling his effort past the despairing fingertips of Jake Mernaga in goal.

A good cross from Chris Lockwood once found Armar-Tackie who was completely unmarked in the box but he was unable to direct his header on target.

Redbridge saw a Hunt free kick headed wide by Adelekan whilst just as the whistle was about to blow Ilford almost scored a third when Armar-Tackie released substitute Christopher Stevens but he fluffed his effort.

The home side started the 2nd period well and good work down the left flank by Aron Gordon saw his cross fall at the feet of Hunt but he was unable to keep his effort down.

They soon however did get themselves back in the match when Adelekan was on hand to score his and his club's second of the match as he reacted first to a cross.

Both sides cancelled each other out in the middle of the park with much in the way of clear cut chances

A good move from Ilford saw the ball fall at the feet of Stevens but he was unable to control before a Jacob Dingli turn and shot for Redbridge was straight into the arms of Clark.

The away side regained their lead when a free kick was knocked back into the box by captain Isaac Nkosi at the far post and Stevens was on hand to tap home.

Things soon went from bad to worse for the home side when Siphi Mytanda broke free and with the home defence appealing for an offside decision that never came Mernaga rushed out his goal and brought the player down.

The referee showed the goalkeeper a straight red card and with Hunt taking over between the posts his first job was to pick the ball up out of the net as Jones scored the penalty.

The ten men of Redbridge pushed forward and sustitute Lee Weems got a touch to a corner but the ball bounced up and over the crossbar.

With injury time looming the home side were awarded a penalty after the referee seemed to change his mind after the original decision of giving a free kick. Weemes stepped up to hammer home but it was not enough as the referee blew the full time whistle as soon as the match had restarted.

report by Adam Silver