The Motormen faced Southern League side London Lions for the very first time as they travelled to Rowley Lane for this Emirates FA Cup Preliminary Round tie. Redbridge arrived in confident mood, having won their opening three league fixtures and sitting joint‑top of the Isthmian North, but were made to work from the outset in a competitive and hard‑fought cup encounter.

The early exchanges reflected that confidence, with Pedro Carvalho and Jack Chawner both forcing Lions keeper Nathan Bloohn into action. At the other end, Gibbons produced a couple of half‑chances for the hosts.

Carvalho was a constant threat down the left, and it was his pace and trickery that led to the opening goal. His cross found Louie Remi, who went down under a challenge. Despite protests from the Lions defence, the referee pointed to the spot.

Chawner stepped up and confidently sent Bloohn the wrong way to give Redbridge a deserved lead.

Buoyed by the opener, Redbridge pushed for a second. Carvalho again caused problems, slipping in Bruno Tavares, who fired wide from close range — a miss that proved costly.

Moments later, Lions levelled. Adam Burchell was afforded too much space on the edge of the box and drilled low past Lewis Greene to make it 1–1 at the break.

The hosts began the second half strongly. Chawner was dispossessed in midfield, allowing Joe Leslie a clear run on goal, but skipper Henry Day produced a superb last‑ditch tackle to deny a certain Lions goal.

Carvalho continued to look lively, dragging a shot wide, but Lions soon took control. A Leslie free‑kick was swung into the area, and defender Jamie Cohen rose highest to head into the far corner, turning the tie in Lions’ favour.

The home side pushed for a third, with Gibbons forcing Greene into an excellent save after skipping past Robert Bagnall. Cohen and Jack Mattey also went close as Redbridge struggled to regain momentum.

Redbridge were handed a lifeline when Carvalho once again dazzled, skipping past two defenders before being brought down in the box.
Chawner stepped up for his second penalty of the afternoon and coolly rolled the ball home to make it 2–2.

Minutes later, Remi appeared to be fouled in the area, but instead of awarding a third penalty, the referee booked the striker for simulation — a decision that frustrated the travelling support.

Both sides pushed for a winner. Chawner was denied by a superb save, while Leslie’s speculative volley was tipped away by Greene.

But as the clock hit 90 minutes, Lions struck the decisive blow. A move down the left ended with the ball squared to Gibbons, who swept home to seal a dramatic victory and send London Lions into the next round.

report by Adam Silver