The Motormen hosted fellow Isthmian North side Waltham Abbey in the 1st Round Qualifying of the Isuzu FA Trophy.

After being knocked out the FA Cup last weekend Redbridge were hoping to progress in this competition however they knew it would be a tough ask against a side unbeaten so far and whom had already beaten them in a league match just two weeks earlier.

Jake Anderson took charge between the sticks whilst there was a debut for newly signed defender Joseph Johnson.  

It was the away side with the early possession and whom created the first opportunity,   a free-kick was spilled by Anderson but he showed good reactions to block the rebounded effort.

Redbridge then came forward for the first time,   Ayodeji Olukoga broke up play before carrying the ball up field,  with space opening up in front of him he decided to take aim looking for the bottom corner but his effort dropped wide of the upright. 

Abbey shortly after went ahead,   Aaron Eyoma showed good hold up play before laying the ball into the path of Jack Blower who drilled his shot past the diving Anderson.  

Redbridge reacted with a Karl Kayembe shot which looked to be heading in however was blocked by a Waltham Abbey defender.

Eyoma once again did well keeping the ball ,  this time spreading play out wide to Nathan Twun-Koranteng who went for goal but got his angles wrong shooting high and wide.

It mattered little as the away side soon doubled their advantage ,   a ball was played through and with the Redbridge defenders calling for a flag which never came Bansal McNulty kept his composure and fired home.

Kai Brown was almost in for a third but Anderson was quickly out to gather,    at the other end Wesley Mbedzu put over a teasing first time cross but keeper Bradley Robinson cut it out.

Into the second period and the home side were looking for a reaction but it remained Abbey who looked the more dangerous and indeed they grabbed the next goal ,    McNulty picked the ball up in midfield and was allowed to run at goal before looking up and unleashing a superb curling effort leaving Anderson no chance. 

Redbridge were finding it difficult to create anything of note however were given a spark with the introduction of substitite Soumen Nandi who immediately won his side a corner.

Abbey put the game to bed with 10 minutes to go ,  Kai Brown from a wide angle fired low into the far corner of the net.

To their credit the Motormen heads never dropped and continued to push forward,    into added time and they were rewarded a consolation goal when Solomon Ogunwomoju floated a ball into thepath of Nandi who brought down the ball with his chest before flicking past the outrushing keeper.

It unfortunately was a case of too little too late and full time was soon called ending Redbridge particiation in the competition at the first stage.

report by Adam Silver