Redbridge made it three league wins on the spin with a dramatic late victory away at Bowers & Pitsea, having already defeated the Bowers in the reverse fixture earlier in the campaign.

The home side had the first effort of the afternoon when Renel Batlokwa found space from a wide angle, but his effort was comfortably saved by Lewis Greene.

Redbridge soon went up the other end and came within inches of taking the lead. Pedro Carvalho delivered a dangerous cross which found Charles Brown-Bampoe, but former Redbridge goalkeeper Samuel Nwabuko produced a superb save to tip the close-range effort over the bar.

Much of Bowers' attacking threat was coming through the lively Manny Shana, whose pace was causing problems for the Redbridge defence. Shana soon tested Greene again with a powerful effort which stung the goalkeeper's fingertips.

Redbridge then had a strong penalty appeal turned down. Carvalho raced onto a through ball after a Bowers defender misjudged its flight and, as the Redbridge forward drove towards goal, he was brought crashing down. The referee, however, judged the offence to have taken place just outside the penalty area.

From the resulting free kick, Redbridge worked the ball well to Mekael Williams, whose curling effort was turned behind by Nwabuko.

It was becoming an entertaining first half, with Redbridge creating the better opportunities. Carvalho's pace once again took him clear of his marker, but Nwabuko stood firm and this time used his feet to keep out the effort.

Just as half-time approached, Redbridge finally found the breakthrough. A ball over the top picked out the run of Brown-Bampoe, who reached it before Nwabuko. The goalkeeper's attempt to claim the ball instead brought the striker crashing to the ground, leaving the referee with little choice but to award a penalty.

Jack Chawner stepped up and confidently sent Nwabuko the wrong way, scoring his seventh goal of the season and sending Redbridge into the interval with a 1–0 lead.

Redbridge almost doubled their advantage early in the second half when a corner evaded everyone, including Nwabuko, before striking the post and bouncing away to safety.

The visitors made an early double substitution, but it was Bowers who soon found the equaliser.

Recently booked Karl Kayembe was hesitant to make a challenge, allowing the home side to work the ball into the box. Finlay Dorrell showed excellent awareness to make his run and get a decisive touch on the ball, taking it away from Greene and into the corner of the net.

The equaliser certainly lifted the home side, who began to pile on the pressure and looked the more likely team to find the next goal.

Redbridge continued to threaten on the break, and Chawner came close to restoring the visitors' lead when his dipping effort from distance flew narrowly over the crossbar.

With the match seemingly heading for a draw, Redbridge produced a dramatic late winner.

Substitute Ramiah Mills delivered a cross into the box in added time which took a touch off a Bowers defender. The deflection took the ball away from the helpless Nwabuko and sent it into the back of the net.

It was a cruel way for Bowers & Pitsea to lose the game, but Redbridge won't care one bit as they secured a huge three points and made it three league victories in a row.

match report by Adam Silver

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