Redbridge hosted Stanway Rovers looking to make it a hattrick of league wins in their good start to the new ESL campaign, Stanway arrived in confident mood however after 2-0 weekend victory over Saffron Walden Town.

It didn’t take long for the home side to go Infront and with just 5 minutes on the clock a long thrown from Joe Elliott was headed on by defender Nathan Okoye past the stranded Bradley Davison in goal, a perfect start from the Motormen.

Redbridge continued on the front foot as Jack Chawner saw his free kick at first gathered by Davison before dropping the loose ball and conceding a corner.

Simon Bamidele then showed some good feet to get away from a Stanway defender but his effort was well off target.

A first attack of the game for the away side as a good ball over from the right side found Joel Older unmarked at the far post but his first touch deserted him and was unable to cut the ball back across the box.

Back at the other end the ever energetic Michael Pindy put across a good ball which was cleared before anyone in a blue shirt could get a touch.

The game then went from end to end with both sides winning a series of corners without either side really coming close to scoring, there was however a big shout from the away bench when Ernest Okoh fell to the ground as he tried to round keeper Connor Wheatley but the referee deemed the player had simply fell and nothing more was awarded.

Into the second half and after 57 minutes Stanway equalised when Ricky Tabbard tried his luck from way outside the area where his superb drive beat the outstretched dive of Wheatley and levelled the scores.

Redbridge were shortly reduced to ten men when Elliott was sent to the sin bin and with the numerical advantage Stanway had a spell where they got on top buoyed by their goal.

Into the last twenty minutes and the home side were now passing the ball around well but seemed just to lack that final threat , George Christou looked to his bench for inspiration making three substitutions which provided some fresh legs and energy into the team but failed to find that winning goal.

The final whistle soon blew and although the home side would feel disappointed not to take all 3 points a draw is certainly not the worst result against a good side and 7 points from 9 is a good return from our opening three league matches.

report by Adam Silver