Redbridge welcomed their ex tenants Barkingside back to the Oakside stadium for the return league fixture which Side had won 1-0 back in August. Prior to kick off Redbridge chairman/manager Ricky Eaton presented defender Stephen Good with a trophy to reward him on playing his 100th match for the Motormen against F.C. Romania at the weekend.

The game was just 70 seconds old when Redbridge shocked their opponents by taking an early lead , a through ball found Jacob Dingli in space and he kept his composure as neatly finished past Sam Roach in goal.

Barkingside went up the other end and created a chance of their own when David Laird blasted his effort high after good work by Michael Ademilyu.

The home side were looking dangerous with every attack as they started the game at a ferocious pace, Reside Coxi Sebastfao had a chance as he cut inside and shot from distance with his effort just going wide.

Superb work by Aron Gordon as he broke free beating two players before sliding the ball out wide to David Sangolo but his shot was off target. He then provided a deep cross which found head of Dingli but his point blank header was well pushed away by Roach.

It was therefore no surprise that they then doubled their lead on 17 minutes when Barkingside failed to clear the danger and Jay Knight slipped the ball into the path of Dingli who was able to simply poke home .

Redbridge were playing some delightful stuff and were in danger of running riot, they soon hit both the post and bar in the same move before the ball was eventually cleared away for a corner. It was swung in and with Side at sixes and sevens Knight was so close to a 3rd goal as he saw his effort fly just wide of the post.

The first real effort of note for Barkingside came after 29 mins when ex Motorman Charlie Portway tried his luck but his shot was comfortably saved by Jake Mernagh. The away side were slowly starting to get a foothold back into the game and pulled a goal back when Portway beat Mernagh with his shot going in off a post.

The last chance of the half came to Ademilyu who broke free down the left hand side bearing down on goal but his effort hit the side netting.

Redbridge started the 2nd period like they did the 1st with a chance for Coxi-Sebasftao before Good unusually up in the opponents penalty box back heeled the ball into the path of Dingli who fired inches wide.

Barkingside managed to level the match through their substitute Arnest Okoa who made amends for a missed chance moments later when he ran onto a loose ball and delightfully lobbed over a stranded Mernagh who was off his line.

They however were not level for long as a minute later Redbridge went straight back up the other end and regained their lead when a scramble in the penalty box ended with Sean Kettle putting the ball across the line.

Okoa was causing problems for the Redbridge defence and he saw his shot well turned away by Mernagh.

The Barkingside manager was becoming agitated on the side lines as he then felt his side were denied a clear cut penalty and they were soon ever so close to another equaliser but the ball was desperately cleared off the line by a defender.

Another good chance came and went they went as a long free kick into the box found the head of Portway who headed just over with Mernagh beaten as he came to punch the ball clear.

The match was becoming increasingly stretched now and Redbridge had further chances through substitute Joe Gent and Knight before in the final minute of injury time the home side sealed victory as Gordon cut inside from the left flank and fired his effort past roach to cap a fine evening and result as they continue to slowly push up the table.

report by Adam Silver