The Motormen made the long trip down to West Sussex for this Inter League Play Off Final against Isthmian South East side Haywards Heath Town in a winner takes all decider where after a long 38 game league campaign everything came down to the next 90 minutes.

In the sunshine in front of large crowd the game got underway and an early chance straight away for the away side as Jack Chawner found space before shooting he dragged his effort wide of the upright.

The home side then broke forward, Richard Pingling whom was looking lively on the right picked the ball up before cutting inside Joe Elliott and letting it fly but his target was off target.

On 13 minutes the deadlock was broken as Haywards Heath went in front, a long thrown was knocked down towards Pingling and his shot from the edge of the box took a defection taking the ball pat the dive of Connor Wheatley .

The goal spurred on the home side who were well on top in these early stages as Redbridge were looking a little nervy, from a corner a deep cross was whipped in by Alex Laing which bounced off the cross bar before the ball eventually ended up in the welcome arms of the Redbridge keeper.

At the other end and a chance fell at the feet of Brian Moses in space but he decided to go for the early shot which was always rising.

Laing was then shown a yellow card much to his amazement when he seemingly went down under the challenge of Joe Elliott however the referee decided the player had gone down rather theatrically for his liking.

A free kick outside the box for Redbridge saw George Purcell standing over it, he went for goal only to see his effort blocked and turned behind. The resulting corner was flicked on by Moses towards Nathan Okoye but his close range header was easily picked out the air by Billy Collings in the home goal.

At the other end and Laing cut inside Jerold Cobblah before heading towards goal, he played a one two before racing onto the return ball only to be upended under the challenge of Okoye and with the referee well positioned a penalty was awarded.

Laing dusted himself off to take the spot kick sending Wheatley the wrong way to double his side’s advantage and looking to put them firmly in control at this stage.

Purcell then flashed a free kick wide before Redbridge won themselves a series of corners as they looked to try and get a reply before half time. Purcell almost taking advantage of a mix up between the home keeper and a defender but Collings reacted quickly to deny the striker.

That proved to be the final action of the first half, a big 45 minutes ahead for both sides as Redbridge found themselves in an unfamiliar position at the break.

Underway in the second period and any chance of a Redbridge come back would require an early goal and that is exactly what they got, Moses stole back possession in the middle of the pitch playing in Purcell who found the run of Cobblah and although at first it looked as though he had taken too long he infact took a touch before cutting back inside a defender opening up his body to superbly find the corner of the net- game on!!

Moses soon made way as he was replaced by James Barlow who was immediately involved as he flicked his header into the path of Abs Thompson who challenged with the outrushing Collings and before crashing to the ground, shouts from players and the bench for a penalty fell on deaf ears as play was waved on.

Redbridge were now looking the most lively and the home side’s one goal advantage was starting to look a little fragile although they did almost restore their two goal lead when Pingling touched the ball over the line after a header had crashed back off the bar however the striker was in an offside position.

From the resulting free kick Redbrdge went straight back up the other end and drew level, Barlow again winning the header before finding fellow substitute Solomon Ogunwomoju who got in behind the defence and stabbed the ball under the keeper.

The home side went close when a long throw was knocked back across the goal by a Redbridge header just evading the touch of Pingling at the far post. Laing who had looked the home side’s most dangerous asset all afternoon then tried his luck from range which Wheatley was glad to see drop behind.

Into the final 10 minutes now and the game was there to be won by either side, none of whom would have been wanting penalty kicks with no extra time being played today.

Redbridge however then turned the game completely around as Cobblah found Purcell out wide and his cross found the head of Ogunwomoju in an unmarked position and he placed his headed into the far corner beating the dive of Collings

With an additional nine minutes of added time it became a nail biting finale before full time was called resulting in wild scenes of jubilation for the away side as they had won promotion back to Step four for the first time since 2015/16 season.

report by Adam Silver