Redbridge hosted Basildon United in a massive fixture at the top of the table and both sides would have been eager to be back in action after the recent bad weather had seen many fixtures postponed.

Redbridge came out the blocks the quickest and Reside Coxi Sebastfao tried his luck from distance but failed to hit the target.

Thomas Gogo then broke free down the left and his cross found Brian Moses who could only head wide although he was flagged offside.

Basildon's first chance fell to Chris Charler who found himself free in space but from a wide position could only fire over.

The away side came forward yet again this time through Reece Conway who fired an effort which beat Lewis Greene in goal but bounced back off the post before being cleared for a corner.

From the resulting kick Conway was on hand unmarked to head home at the far post and give his side the lead.

Shortly after saw a big moment in the game as players from both sides came together although it was difficult to see what had caused this.

After consulting with his officials the referee sent Redbridge's Remi Nelson from the field leaving the home side having to play the final hour with ten men.

Basildon had a good chance when Marcus Bowers seized upon a poor clearance by Greene but his shot went high over the bar.

Skipper Tommy Barton then tried his luck although Greene was equal to it and managed to hold before Patrick Duggan wasted an effort as he shot from range but the ball was always rising.

Redbridge tried their best to get back on level terms but more often than not their final ball was poor and not reaching its intended target.

The 2nd half began with early home pressure as Jonathon Mbamara fired just wide from outside the box after Joshua Hutchinson's cross was only partially cleared.

At the other end leading ESL scorer James Peagram tried a deft lob but Greene stood his line well and made the save.

Redbridge almost got an equaliser when a lovely cross field ball from Vinny Murphy was picked up by Hutchinson who cut inside his man before firing what appeared to be inches wide of the post with Connor Wheatley surely beaten.

Basildon came again and Murphy conceded a free kick just outside the area after Conway went to ground, Bowers stepped up to take the resulting free kick but was off target and the ball drifted out wide.

Joe Skeels then saw his well hit volley clawed away to safety by the diving Greene who saved his side from falling further behind.

Redbridge then had a great chance to score after good work by Moses and Coxi Sebastfao saw the ball eventually fall at the feet of Hutchinson but from close range he somehow managed to smash his shot against the crossbar and over when he really should have scored.

It was certainly a let off for Basildon and they soon wrapped the game up when persistence from Bowers saw him win back possession before curling a lovely effort past Greene and in off the far post.

Redbridge made a treble substitution as they looked for an immediate way back into the game.

Duggan saw his well-placed free kick tipped over before a strong run down the left from sub Billy Golledge saw him at first look like he lost possession before winning it back and finding Moses but somehow the ball was cleared.

Basildon held on for the 3 points and in doing so denied a Redbridge from scoring in the league for the first time since August and are now just one point behind Redbridge on level games played as the race for the title shows no signs of letting up.

report by Adam Silver