Redbridge hosted Athletic Newham at the Oakside looking to get back to winning ways after a midweek draw at Little Oakley. It had the ingredients for an exciting afternoon of football if last season's two league fixtures were anything to go by with both ending 2-2.

With Jake Brocklebank having left the club to go off travelling and defender Nathan Okoye out injured it meant Reuben Campbell, Simon Bamidele and Tony Martin all returned to the starting line-up.

The visitors were the first to try their luck when Daniel Izekor was given time to run into space before firing in a shot which was always rising before a dangerous looking cross from Chris Babosa was cut out by Redbridge keeper George Martin.

The home side then ventured forward as Campbell floated over a cross looking for Martin who could only head wide, it certainly had proven to be a lively opening to the match

The first corner of the match came for Athletic Newham which was swung in by Babosa 1st corner finding the unmarked Jeff Idumedia who headed the wrong side of the upright.

At the other end a lovely cross field pass from Dean Hall found Solomon Ogunwomoju, the striker cut inside a defender but his final shot lacked any intensity and was easily collected by Wilkinson Boateng in the Newham goal.

Campbell then saw his powerful drive fly just over the bar before Izekor tested Martin who saved well down to his right.

The away side then started to get a foothold on proceedings as they began to dominate the midfield and they soon after went ahead.

A nice build up eventually found the ball at the feet of Joel Appiah who stabbed home from close range beating Martin, on the balance of play it was a deserved lead.

Redbridge were looking a little lackluster and were often guilty of over playing the simple pass conceding possession.

Newham took advantage as they doubled their advantage on 40 minutes, Apiah again on the score sheet as he showed good skill to get away from a defender before calmly slotting home.

Redbridge really needed a goal back before the break , Jack Chawner saw his shot acrobatically saved by Boateng before a free kick was won just outside the box.

Gill put the ball into the box , the ball was partially headed away and Dean Hall was on hand to loop a header into the back of the net right on the half time whistle to give his side belief..

Into the second period and Redbridge knew they would need to put in a far better performance to get anything out of the game.

It was however the away side who were the first to come forward as they were almost in only with a last ditch tackle from Daniel Okah preventing a possible 3rd goal.

Redbridge started to see more of the ball and created a good opportunity , the ball up field saw a Newham defender hesitate allowing Ogunwomoju in but he only succeeded to drag his effort wide.

Athletic Newham were having to defend for the majority of this half but were strong in doing so, they rarely go into the Redbridge final third as they had done so well in the first period.

The pressure did finally tell when from a Redbridge corner taken by substitute Robbie Norris Hall found himself in the right place yet again to head home the equaliser.

With just over 10 minutes remaining it was now anyone's game , the momentum however was with the home side and two further substitutes combined when James Barlow played in Tayo Josh Oluokolo, he however decided to go for glory blasting high and wide when he had team mates well placed in the middle.

Further chances followed for Redbridge as Norris pulled an effort wide and Chawner saw a free kick drop the wrong side of the crossbar.

The last five minutes saw the away side finally put some pressure back onto Redbridge , they broke well down the left however the move fell apart as substitute Oscar Onurah tamely lifted the ball over.

Full time then came as both sides had to share the points, Redbridge will be pleased in the way they showed character to come back from 2 down however will ultimately be disappointed to have dropped points at home.

Report by Adam Silver