The tie started with East Thurrock determined to make amends for their defeat in the FA Cup last saturday. They attacked fromt he start and on twenty minutes scored that vital goal on 20 minutes.

After that shock, Redbridge began to get more into the game and had a couple of good chances but the East Thurroch defence were quite solid and kept us at bay.

The second half, after a good talk from our management team, Redbridge became more aggressive and openings began to appear. The reward came when Stuart Hepburn netted on 51 minutes following a ball into the box from Joe Bricknell.

As so often happens this season in Redbridge's games, the second half came alive, when East Thurrock were awarded a penalty and Petrit Elbi scored, giving Edward Wooten, no chance on 62 minutes.

Redbridge came back and attacked with some excellent football and was rewarded on 78 minutes, when Shane Stamp was brought down in the area. Ryan Wade stepped up and placed his shot in the top right hand corner, low and behold, the referee dis-aloud the goal for some reason and was told to take it again. Ryan put the ball on the spot, took aim
and placed it in the same place, while the goalkeeper went the other way. 2 -2.

Wade was again in the thick of another attack when he tackled an East Thurrock player, beat two more, pasted to Joe Bricknell, he past back, While the bench were calling out for him to pass, Ryan carried on towards goal and played in Jack Leachman for a great 3rd, his first on the night on 82 minutes.

This last goal took the wind out of East Thurrock and except for a couple of half hearted attacks, came was over. Giddings came on for Bishop, Leachman on for St.Hilaire and Glowack (after his broken leg, in July) for Wood. A good performance alround with Joe Bricknell and Nathan Bertram-Cooper, outstanding.

Redbridge: Edward Wooten, Aarun Best, Shane Stamp, Craig Wood (Jonathan Glowacki 69), Stuart Hepburn, Nathan Bertram-Cooper, Mitchell Das, Joe Bricknell, Ryan Wade, St Hilare (Jack Leachman 60)), Kieran Bishop (Jake Giddings 45).

Report by Len Cordell