Going into the game, Redbridge had been buoyed by getting their hands on the FA Cup trophy thanks to The Sun newspaper and the Football Association popping it down to the Oaksid. Due to that, there was a real sense of Cup Magic in the air at the ground and everyone could smell it.

Ebbsfleet managed by Liam Daish started the game on the front-foot putting Redbridge’s solid defence under pressure early on. However despite winning a succession of corners the Conference side were unable to get an early goal, which some of their fans had predicted they would as they walked into the ground.

Redbridge started the game playing a more defensive formation and it meant that the club’s attacking-minded wingers Ben Bradbury and Nathan Gordon had to track back and work hard for their team to make sure the hosts were not caught light at the back early on.

A mix-up in defence by Billy Sendall and Tommy Spillane presented Ebbsfleet’s star striker with a chance through on goal, but Adam Rafis brilliantly gathered the ball down at his feet to the frustration of the visiting fans packed behind the goal at the north end of the Oakside.

Ricky Shakes then had a deflected back-heel saved comfortably by the experienced Rafis in goal. The former-Harlow man was in action a minute later tipping over a Paul Lorraine header over the bar from a Matty West corner

Redbridge were forced into a substitution just after the half-hour with Tommy Spillane coming off with a suspected calf strain with the young livewire Vinnie Durrant coming on to slot in at left-back. As the half wore on, the Motormen begun to press forward and with Dan Trenkel and Danny Hopkins working hard, begun to work the ball into good areas.

Not long after Trenkel drove a shot wide, the experienced midfielder fed in Joe Gardner down the right but he could only curl a shot just over the bar with the ball agonisingly landing on the roof of the net, much to the frustration of the home supporters who thought the ball had just crept into the corner.

HT Redbridge 0 Ebbsfleet United 0

Two minutes after the interval Ebbsfleet should have taken the lead but somehow West side-footed an effort inside the area wide. It was a bad miss and one that you would expect a Conference player to take.

Redbridge buoyed on by the occasion, then begun to up the gears and with their defence - led brilliantly by Glen Golby - heading and blocking any crosses into the area, begun to press forward looking for a goal that would see them take the lead.

A great run by Durrant ended with the winger seeing a spectacular shot saved by Preston Edwards. Dusting off the disappointment of seeing his shot saved, Durrant whipped in a brilliant cross after his corner was cleared which found the powerful Murray inside the area to head the Motormen into the lead with 10 minutes remaining.

It was the goal that Redbridge’s spirit and hunger had derserved. Durrant was in the thick of the action and volleyed a powerful shot narrowly wide which Ebbsfleet’s keeper Preston Edwards could only watch sail past the post.

With some of Ebbsfleet’s fans beginning to make their way out of the turnstiles, Redbridge added futher icing on the cake that was their victory when James Robinson back-heeled Durrant’s short freekick right into the path of Gardner who kept his compsure to beat two players before guiding the ball into the far corner for the Motormen’s second.

It was not only the most important strike of young Gardner’s career but the most important goal that the Oakside has seen since 2003, when the club then known as Ford Untied last reached the First round of the FA Cup. Spillane, his coaching staff and everyone connected to the club should feel very proud of themselves for their historic run in the greatest cup competition in the world this season.

Redbridge: Adam Rafis, Billy Sendall, Tommy Spillane (Vinnie Durrant), Jamie Haywood, Glen Golby, Dan Trenkel, Ben Bradbury (James Robinson 79), Daniel Hopkins, Ryan Murray (Keke St Hilare 85), Joe Gardner, Nathan Gordon.

Click here for Adam D's interview with assistant manager Mark Penfold and first team coach Jody Brown from after the game.

Click here for Adam D's interview with midfielder's Jonny Glowacki and Shane Stamp from after the game.

Click here for Adam D's interview with goalkeeper Adam Rafis and coaching adviser Larry Woods from after the game

Click here for Adam D's interview with our forward James Robinson from after the game.

Click here for Adam D's interview with our goal-scoring hero Ryan Murray from after the game.

Click here for Adam D's interview with our manager Terry Spillane from after the game.

Click here for Adam D's interview with our chairman Dan Holloway from after the game.