The Motormen welcomed Takeley to the Techsoc.com Stadium on Tuesday night, coming off the back of a confident 3–1 win against Tilbury and riding a seven-game unbeaten streak. In contrast, their opponents were lingering around the relegation zone and looking to cause an upset.

There was just one change to the Redbridge starting XI, with debutant Prince Sikiru replacing the injured Soumen Nandi. Striker Fotsing Pioula-Wabo also made a welcome return to the bench.

Redbridge started brightly, launching an early attack that showed intent but yielded no end product. Takeley responded quickly, with a goal kick finding Joseph Pullen, whose attempted forward pass was cut out by Jack Chawner.

The home side enjoyed good spells of possession, building steadily from the back. Their pressure earned a corner, taken by Malachi Napa. His delivery found Solo Ogunwomoju, whose powerful header was brilliantly saved by Jarvis Monk. Moments later, Henry Day swung a dangerous ball into the box, but it narrowly evaded everyone.

Sikiru continued to impress, making a driving run down the flank and delivering a cross that was well intercepted by Lewis Wicker.

Ogunwomoju then burst through the defence, only for a heavy second touch to gift the ball to the Takeley keeper. At the other end, Jamal Obeng crossed for Pullen, but the forward’s header sailed over.

Takeley began to grow into the game, and Zak Drake was brought down in the box by Samuel Nwabako, earning the Redbridge keeper a yellow card and handing the visitors a penalty. Obeng stepped up but struck the post — the rebound bounced off Nwabako and away, keeping the scores level.

Redbridge looked slightly unsettled at the back. Charlie Allum tested his luck with a strike that whistled just wide, before Napa curled an effort inches past the post at the other end.

The deadlock was finally broken when Pullen danced past the Redbridge defence and finished smartly to put Takeley 1–0 ahead.

Redbridge responded positively. Napa cut inside and unleashed a fierce shot that Monk saved acrobatically. Former Redbridge man Wesley Gomes Dos Santos saw an effort blocked by Day.

Just before half-time, Gomes Dos Santos tried his luck again with a volley that forced a fantastic save from Nwabako. Redbridge nearly found an equaliser just before the whistle when Ogunwomoju beat his marker, only to see his effort drift narrowly wide.

Redbridge came out for the second half with renewed purpose. A free-kick fell to Ogunwomoju, but his shot was blocked by Thomas Massey. Napa then won the ball back brilliantly and delivered a pinpoint cross to Ogunwomoju, who attempted a spectacular overhead kick.

The breakthrough came shortly after — a corner found captain Day, who rose highest to head home his first goal of the season and level the match at 1–1.

Redbridge, now full of confidence, pushed on. Josh Taylor earned a corner down the left through sheer persistence, but the delivery came to
nothing.

Takeley struck back when Zak Drake held off Olamiji Ayoola and got a shot away, flashing just wide. But they regained the lead moments later when a corner dropped to Obeng, who volleyed into the top corner with a stunning finish to make it 2–1.

Drama followed. Redbridge thought they had equalised when Olamiji Olakuga pounced on a loose ball and rifled it home after brilliant work by Napa on the wing. The referee initially awarded the goal, but the assistant on the far side raised a late flag for offside — a controversial decision that left the home side incensed.

Takeley threatened again, forcing Nwabako into another excellent save from a powerful effort. Redbridge made attacking substitutions, throwing on fresh legs for a final push.

Despite a good chance for Ogunwomoju late on, who blazed over the bar, the hosts were unable to find the leveller. The referee’s final whistle confirmed the end of Redbridge’s impressive unbeaten run.

report by James Sibthorpe