Despite being forced to play a Ryman League Cup match the previous night away to East Thurrock United (who alike the Motormen had reached the first round of the FA Cup), Redbridge’s strong starting eleven showed no fatigue at the start of the game. After all they had not played at all in the side’s win at Rookery Hill and with some big games coming up clearly were all eager to play.

Joe Gardner who has been on-form of late looked dangerous at the start of the game and forced former Redbridge-keeper Dave McCartney into a good save at his near post after 9 minutes before Ben Bradbury’s follow-up hit the outside of the post.

With the experienced Dan Trenkel leading the side in skipper Glen Golby’s absence the hosts looked strong early on with FA Cup-hero Adam Rafis in goal only having to tip a Luke Stanley inswinging corner over the bar as Aveley despite not doing anything wrong, looked vulnerable. Midway through the first-half Aveley took the lead on their first real attack of the game.

Good play going forward by Charlie Read, who appeared four times for the Motormen last season sprayed the ball out to Ellis Remy who laid the ball perfectly for Joey May to hammer the ball home from just outside the area. Rafis could do nothing about the strike and to the surprise of everyone inside the Oakside, the visitors were ahead.

Aveley grew in confidence after that and as so often happens when teams go-ahead, they begun passing the ball about and looking dangerous down their flanks. Redbridge though were unlucky not to go into half-time level but James Robinson saw a shot deflected wide on the stroke of half-time after he did well to get onto a low Nathan Gordon cross.

HT Redbridge 0 Aveley 1

Terry Spillane made two changes immediately after the interval bringing on the two Ryan’s, Murray and Wade on for Gardner and Bradbury. The two got early first-touches on the ball and immediately offered the hosts some width and presence up front that had been missing after Aveley went ahead.

Good play in midfield by Daniel Hopkins found Trenkel in midfield who put in a wonderful threaded through-ball to Robinson who shot straight at McCartney when he should have perhaps bent the ball into the top corner or knocked it across goal where Murray and Gordon were waiting to tap the ball in.

Just before the hour-mark the Motormen were level when Vinnie Durrant's corner was nicked on by Matt Turpin with the ball going in off Robinson and in off the post. Both players claimed the goal, but it appeared that it was the forward Robinson who had got the final touch. Either way the Motormen were level.

Redbridge battled for the winner and Robinson should have had a second but fizzed a shot wide across goal after being set up by Wade. May then hit the bar for Aveley with a 20-yard free-kick before Billy Sendall hooked over following a corner.

In the final minute of normal-time the visitors grabbed the lead when Abs Thompson nicked the ball of Turpin and drove into the byline crossing for Danny Francis to hook home. Redbridge were unfortunate even then not to secure a penalty shootout and were unlucky not to win a penalty when Sendall was shoved over in the box by Anton Blackwood before Jamie Haywood drilled a shot narrowly wide of goal.

Redbridge: Adam Rafis, Billy Sendall, Vinnie Durrant, Jamie Haywood, Matt Turpin, Daniel Hopkins, Ben Bradbury, Dan Trenkel, Joe Gardner, James Robinson, Nathan Gordon.