Stansted hosted Redbridge, two teams who know each other well after already meeting on four previous occasions this season however this was to prove the biggest clash so far with both sides eyeing up that runner up position and with-it possible promotion.

Redbridge started with George Martin back in goal whilst striker Tony Martin was absent meaning Ibrahim Kehinde started as striker, Jake Brocklebank returned from injury slotting into midfield.

Stansted had the first sniff at goal when a long throw came in which was met by the head of Callum Taylor but Martin was there to claim.

The Motormen then broke up field , James Barlow found the run of Michael Pindy down the right flank, but his shot was blocked.

Stansted then had a free kick played to the far post , John Clarke headed the ball back into the box but was unable to find anyone in a blue shirt and Redbridge were able to clear.

Stansted were looking the more dangerous at this stage and almost opened the scoring when Connor Hammond saw his header almost creep in at the far post however Martin was quickly down to make the save.

At the other end Barlow chased onto a long clearance from Martin however chose to go with his head rather than shooting and in the end the ball was easily gathered by James Dillon in the Stansted goal.

The deadlock was finally broken on the 40-minute mark by the away side, Kehinde did well on the left-hand side beating a couple of players before his cross come shot was turned in at the far post by Pindy to score the crucial goal.

Stansted then thought they had big shouts for a penalty as Brad Russell went down in the box however the referee was happy that the Redbridge defender had got to the ball first and waved play on just as the half time whistle was then blown.

Redbridge started the 2nd half with Jack Chawner trying his luck from range which Dillon got down to managing to hang on as the ball almost spilt away from him.

Jerrold Cobblah then flashed an effort just wide of the upright as the away side continued to pile on the pressure whilst the home side were poor by their own standards and not showing much in the final third.

They did however find themselves presented with an opportunity when Brocklebank thought he had done enough to see the ball roll out of play, but Jack Mitchell had other ideas not giving up on a lost cause managing to get a shot in although he only succeeded in finding the side netting.

Big chance for a 2nd goal for Redbridge as a Chawner free kick found the head of Nathan Okoye who got up well but headed the ball just wide.

Hammond then struck a free kick the wrong side of the post as the clock started to tick down.

Redbridge looked to have sealed the win when Jack Roult scored a great individual goal, he picked up a loose pass in the middle of the park before going on a charging run at goal, he played a short pass to Kehinde who then presented him straight back with the ball before continuing his run and calmly slotting past Dillon.

Into added time now and Stansted were presented with a glimmer of hope when a ball was crossed in from the right hitting against Redbridge defender Dean Hall who on his 100th appearance for the Motormen put through his own net.

It mattered little however as literally from kick off substitute Loui Hazlewood took advantage by adding a third as he skillfully lifted the ball past Dillon whilst the Stansted players appeared to just all stop believing the assistant had raised a flag.

With that the full-time whistle was blown meaning Redbridge move back up above their opponents into third with the race for 2nd place still very much on. As the Motormen celebrated you could almost hear the celebrations down in E17 as with Stansted failing to win it handed Walthamstow the league title and they are promoted to the Isthmian league as worthy champions.

report by Adam Silver