Redbridge travelled to the Spotted Dog as they looked to continue their recent good form however were missing some key players none more so than Brian Moses who was serving the first of his three match suspension.

Clapton started the livelier of the sides and an early chance from Steven Sardinha flew high over the bar from distance.

The Motormen gained the early advantage after eight minutes when Calvin Poku showed his strength to win the ball and bring it down before looking up and unleashing a superb strike from fully 30 yards , with the keeper off his line the ball looped over him and dropped into the back of the net.

Clapton responded well to going behind and were looking dangerous especially down the right flank but Lewis Greene was doing a good job in marshalling his defence.

At the other Joshua Hutchinson then ran onto a loose ball but could only manage to fire wide from a tight angle.

From a corner Redbridge had two efforts both of which were well blocked by Emmanuel Olajide before the ball was cleared up field. Vinny Moses failed to clear allowing Greg Akpele to pick the ball up before cutting inside and firing a terrific effort into the top corner leaving Greene clasping at thin air.

Clapton now had the ascendancy and continued to attack Redbridge , the Motormen defence once again failed to clear the danger allowing Junior Fatai-Somuyiwa to fire the home side in front.

A mad two minute spell saw the game now turned on its head as Redbridge looked somewhat shell shocked. Poku responded by running up field and although he had good options out wide he chose to shoot himself as the ball fizzed wide.

Clapton continued to ask questions of the Redbridge defence and a dangerous corner evaded everyone before a free kick flew just wide.

Joshua Sykes then found himself through on goal in a good position but a heavy first touch allowed a Clapton defender to get back and clear.

Half time could not come soon enough for the away side although they were given a way back into the match when the referee awarded a penalty for what appeared to be a hand ball in the box.

Poku stepped up but the keeper dived low to his right to push the ball away , this was to be the last action of an entertaining first 45 minutes.

The 2nd half began with Billy Gollege heading over from a long Murphy throw before Clapton were then awarded a free kick which was swung into the box, Redbridge defence made a hash with the clearance and Warren Isoka was on hand to fire past a stranded Greene to make it 3-1.

Redbridge pushed forward and a free kick was pumped in but evaded three players who all went to ground when only the simplest of touches would surely have resulted in a goal

Hutchinson then went close with a curling effort which was to be his last action of the night before he left the field to be replaced by Phillip Browne-Bamfpoe.

Patrick Duggan then fouled his man to which Clapton’s goal scorer Fatai-Simuyiwa took offence to and proceeded to push his head into the face of the Redbridge midfielder leaving the referee with little choice but to send the player off, with his side leading it really was a moment of stupidity from the Clapton player.

It did not take long for Redbridge to make the numerical advantage count as Courtney Homans whipped in a cross finding Eljay Worrell who struck his effort low into the bottom corner past the Clapton keeper.

It was now game on as the away side continued to throw everything at their opponents , first Poku turned well before unleashing a powerful shot which bounced against the keeper’s chest before he was able to gather at the second attempt.

Next came a series of corners but without the imposing figure of Moses in the penalty box three good headed chances all went begging for Redbridge before the full time whistle eventually was blown.

Redbridge stay top but Great Wakering Rovers now have the chance to reclaim pole position when they play Tower Hamlets tonight as once again there is another twist in the run in towards the Essex Senior League title.

report by Adam Silver