It was another tremendous result for Terry Spillane’s side who have certainly shown that they are a tough opposition for anybody this season in both league and cup competition.

Needham started the game well and had two chances early on. First Sam Newson shot over inside the first minute before Danny Thrower shot wide shortly after. Redbridge though were passing the ball about well and a great 20 yard run by Shane Stamp won the hosts a penalty when the pacey winger was clipped by Phil Boyland. Bradbury stepped up from the spot and kept his cool to send Needham’s keeper Andrew Plummer the wrong way for his 9th goal of the season to put the Motormen ahead after 8 minutes.

Needham went on the offensive and Bradley Barber tested Adam Rafis in goal with a powerful shot which the experienced keeper deal with well. The visitors though looked vulnerable on the break and a great ball in from the left by Tommy Spillane was flicked on by Ryan Murray into the heart of the area where Bradbury got up past his marker to head the ball in past the scrambling arms of Plummer in goal.

Despite being 2-0 up after 15 minutes, no Redbridge fan felt that the game was over especially with Needham’s goalscoring record over the last year and a half. First Bradley Barber headed a Throwers corner over before Rafis made a great reaction save to deny Thrower inside the area. Redbridge’s defence were working their socks off with Glen Golby and Billy Sendall starring throwing themselves about to head or block the ball away from goal.

After Stamp was ruled offside through on goal, Needham hit back to reduce the Motormen’s lead. A long Gavin Johnson freekick from the back caught Luke Wilson off-guard and Newson nipped in behind him to coolly slot the ball past Rafis to give the visitors noisy fans something to shout about after 36 minutes.

Redbridge could have lost their lead on the stroke of half-time but the experienced Jose Espinoza headed a Angelo Harrop free-kick over much to the relief of the home fans inside the Oakside. There was work to be done for the hosts to secure their passage through to the next round and they knew it.

HT Redbridge 2 Needham Market 1

Clearly inspired by the words of their manager Spillane, Redbridge came out after half-time looking as bright as the sun that was casting it’s eye over the Oakside throughout the match. A great attack started with Dan Trenkel and Danny Hopkins winning the ball spreading it out wide to Stamp who in turn fed it to Joe Gardner. The skilful forward turned his marker for dead playing in Ryan Murray who held of his marker well charging his way into the area.

Sadly though Murray lost his footing under pressure but still gaining control of the ball swivelled in a shot which struck the inside of the post bouncing out for Gardner who had his goal-bound shot blocked bravely in front. Soon after Golby headed a Hopkins corner over as a third Redbridge goal looked on the cards.

Spillane then made two substitutions on the hour-mark bringing off the injured Murray who’d got a clattering going off with a nose injury and Stamp who’d run his legs fully into the ground. Liveley striker Ryan Wade came on with good utility player Jamie Haywood coming on to bring more bite to Redbridge’s midfield.

The substations’ worked immediately and good hustling by Wade forced Boyland into handling a long free-kick from the back inside the area to win Redbridge a second penalty. Bradbury again kept his composure slotting home for his first hat-trick as a Motorman and his second overall in club football. It was the talented midfielder’s 11th goal of the season and his 5th penalty of a highly productive season so far.

Redbridge could have had a fourth but Wade’s terrific finish on the half-volley from a Gardner pass was ruled out with the official on the far-side ruling that the nifty forward had just strayed into an off-side position. It was a close-call and one that Redbridge’s management team and fans all thought was the wrong decision!

Needham did try to get a second late-on but Newson wasted two chances before Rafis made a stunning penalty save deep into injury-time from Bradley Barber after Tommy Spillane had handled substitute Danny Bloomfield’s shot on the line. It was a straight red-card for the manager’s son but even that couldn’t dampen the day for the hosts who rightly celebrated a fine victory.

Redbridge: Adam Rafis, Billy Sendall, Luke Wilson, Tommy Spillane, Glen Golby, Dan Trenkel, Ben Bradbury (Stuart Hepburn 82), Daniel Hopkins, Ryan Murray (Ryan Wade 60), Joe Gardner, Shane Stamp (Jamie Haywood 60).

Click here for the post match interview with our first team coach Jody Brown and hat-trick hero Ben Bradbury.