Two inform sides met at the Oakside as Redbridge hosted Saffron Walden Town , The Motormen were beginning the first of eight matches in what is to be a very busy April as they look to close in on leaders Enfield.

Prior to kick off a minute applause was held to remember Redbridge photographer Philip Lindhurst who had sadly passed away last week which was observed by all in the ground.

A surprise in the home side starting line up as the imposing figure of Brian Moses made a welcome return to the club to help in their promotion push.

Early intent from the home side as Jerold Cobblah fired an effort over from the edge of the box.

It was almost a goal for Redbridge as a throw was flicked on into the path of Jamie Price who was denied at the far post.

All Redbridge in the opening stages as Price again was denied when he connected with George Purcell's cross into the box but hit his effort straight at James Young in the Walden goal.

Moses then won possession robbing Michael Toner , he sprinted forward but his cross into the middle was cleared to safety.

A free kick was then awarded to Redbridge, up stepped Purcell who fired in a low shot which beat Young who was relieved to see the ball bounce against the post and away.

A first real venture forward for Saffron Walden, Dion Lewis-Kirwan winning his side a free kick from the right after being brought down by Joe Elliot. From another free kick a ball was swung in finding the head of Jason Hallett in space in the box who headed over however the flag was then raised on the far side.

Shouts from the home side for a penalty as Purcell went down under a defenders challenge but nothing given.

The chances continued to come for Redbridge, Moses headed down to Purcell who turned inside a defender but was unable to keep his effort down and blasted over.

The half then came to an end in which Walden will have gone in at the break happy to be level after the home side dominated without finding that vital goal.

Good start to the second period by Redbridge as Moses bundled his way past a couple of defenders brushing them aside before firing in a powerful effort which hit a defender and went out for a corner.

Saffron Walden were then awarded a free kick in a dangerous position just outside the box when Tom Head went tumbling to the ground under a Nathan Okoye challenge , the resulting kick taken by Hallett was fired into the wall and cleared.

The away side were now enjoying their best spell of the game, they came close to opening the scoring when Hallett got his head to a corner which looked to find the top corner but Cobblah was on the line to clear.

Another chance for Walden as Redbridge almost created their own problems, Wheatley rushed his clearance under pressure from Hallett only managing to kick straight to the feet of Head who shot first time towards goal., the Redbridge keeper however was on hand to make a great recovery stop to deny him

At the other end Moses found himself in towards goal but chose to cross but the ball ran across the box with nobody in a blue shirt there to connect.

The game was now starting to open up , Purcell flashed an effort wide for the home side before a quick Walden break only came to a halt with good defending from Redbridge skipper Dean Hall.

With eight minutes to go the all important goal duly arrived, a corner was floated into the middle where it was met by Hall was on hand to emphatically flash a volley past Young. It was a strike you would expect from a striker, certainly not a center back.

Substitute Loui Hazlewood went close to doubling his side's lead with a fiercely taken free kick which just flew over the far post.

Moses then won a ball he had no right to in front of the Walden keeper, he squared to fellow substitute James Barlow who shot first time looking for the near corner but Young was equal to it.

As the clock now moved into added time another great chance came and went for Redbridge, Moses powerful run saw him beat two defenders but he could only shoot straight at the keeper.

Next up Barlow then found space down the left as he strode forward, he then squared to Moses who spurned the opportunity firing the wrong side of the post.

Full time was then called giving the Motormen a big 3 points as they hold onto 2nd place and continue to hunt down leaders Enfield.

report by Adam Silver