Barkingside returned to the ground they spent over 50 years calling home and left with a 4-2 win as they look to avoid relegation from the Ryman North.

It was the away side who started the match the stronger of the two sides so was against the run of play when the Motormen took the lead after 16 minutes.

Patrick Damali sprayed the ball out wide finding Chinedu McKenzie in acres of space and he ran towards goal cut inside a defender and fired the ball past Tim Pitman in goal.

Shortly after it could have been two when from a Redbridge corner Barkingside failed to clear the danger.

On 27 minutes Barkingside were awarded a penalty when Josh Akadka was brought down in the box , up stepped ex Redbridge player Joe Bricknell to slot the ball home for the equaliser.

The goal certainly gave the away side confidence as they then had a series of attacks on the Redbridge goal but failed to make any of them count and it was the home side who were more relieved to hear the half time whistle.

Into the 2nd period and Barkingside continued where they left off and took a deserved lead on 60 minutes when Gregg Akpele curled a lovely effort over Parker.

The lead never lasted long as Charlie Parish floated a ball to the box which substitute Brian Moses controlled before being hacked to the ground leaving the referee with no option but to award a penalty and send off the player. Mark Nougher stepped up and calmly slotted the ball home to square the match up 2-2.

Barkingside had to face the remaining 25 minutes a man down but retained their lead on 80 minutes from Akpele yet again. Redbridge lost possession and from fully 25 yards out the player looked up and smashed the ball goal wards, it was a great effort and left Parker in goal clutching at thin air.

Redbridge now had it all to do but made life harder for themselves when with just four minutes remaining were also reduced to 10 men when Vinny Murphy saw red for something he said to the official.

With the home side now chasing the game Akpele sealed victory for Barkingside as he broke down the wing and fired home to grab his hat trick and a much needed 3 points for the away side.

Report by Adam Silver