On a fairly serene evening at Oakside, mid-table Redbridge took on West Essex in a rare Friday night encounter. Before the match, a minute’s silence was observed after long-time ESL treasurer Margaret Errington passed away this week, following a period of illness. Best wishes to Rob & the family.

The visitors started the match on the front foot, forward Michael Mignot’s hearder hitting the post after good work on the left flank by winger Chad Norris. West Essex striker Tom Woodbridge was also making his presence felt, Redbridge full-back Marcus Carter needing to block a decent cross intended for Woodbridge fairly early on.

However, it was the home side though who pounced first, midfielder Sean Kettle tucking in a rebound after visiting goal-keeper Jack Coker had made a save from Redbridge captain Charlie Parish’s free-kick. Home defender Ore Odutolia also blazed a free-kick over the bar shortly afterward.

Redbridge gradually got going in the match, as West Essex conceded a few free-kicks, Kettle showing good skill on-the-ball before winger Reside Coxi-Sebastfao blasted his effort over the bar.

Out of nowhere, West Essex got level seven minutes before the break through a fantastic strike from midfielder Tanvir Ahmed, who blasted his effort into the roof of the net past helpless home ‘keeper Jake Mernagh from 25 yards out! Unsurprisingly, he was delighted with his goal.

Half-Time: Redbridge 1 – 1 West Essex

The second half took a little while to fizz into action, though a key moment struck nine minutes into the half when Redbridge striker Jacob Dingli was through on goal, Coker rushed out and brought Dingli down outside the box, which earned Coker a straight red card, leaving West Essex down to 10 men and full-back Josh Kane having to take the keeper’s gloves.

Just seven minutes later, Redbridge re-took the lead, winger Coxi-Sebastfao blasting his strike into top-left corner after an initial effort was blocked.

After that, it was main the home side that piled forward, winger Terrell Miller forced a save from Kane and hit the bar with a decent strike too. Redbridge went further ahead through a Dingli tap-in and then minutes later Dingli added to his tally, placing a effort low into the far corner.

Motormen substitute Joe Gent blasted an effort over the bar, having been left alone by a tiring visiting defence. Deep into injury time, Dingli showed his instincts once again, grabbing a hat-trick, passing the ball into the net to add a bit of gloss to the score-line.

Credit to Redbridge for seizing the opportunity to in the end, comfortably win the match though I can’t help but wonder if West Essex could’ve kept all eleven players on the pitch, it would have been a different match altogether. The sending-off did ‘spoil’ the match a bit.

report courtesy of Scott W