In a tense and feisty affair Leiston extended their unbeaten run to 24 games but were pegged back by the visiting Motormen half way through the second half after an early Danny Smy goal. With Enfield Town losing at home to Harlow Town the Blues extend their lead at the top to eight points.

Leaders Leiston were playing their seventh game in March (six in the League) and welcomed play off chasing Redbridge to Victory Road. When the sides met back in September the visitors scored two late goals to salvage a point with midfielder Neil Calver in goal for Leiston! The visitors kicked off with the wind in their favour as they attacked the Estate End. After an even start Leiston opened the scoring on 8 minutes. Boardley was fouled wide on the left on the half way line and from Fox’s delivery, towering centre half Turpin failed to intercept and the ball fell to Smy who steadied before drilling his shot underneath Wright.

Two minutes later M Brothers clever ball released Heath and as he strode into the box he dragged his shot wide of the right hand post. The game was now becoming a little cagey and some tackles began to fly in with Best the first to be booked for a studs up lunge on M Brothers. Just before the half hour Leiston should have doubled their lead as skipper Head met Ottley-Gooch’s right wing cross but sent his header straight at Wright. The feisty nature continued and Gardner followed team mate Best into the Referee’s notebook while on the stroke of half time the visitors almost levelled.

Wright’s huge clearance bounced into the home box and Robinson lifted the ball over Jefford but his volley was turned over the top by a point blank save by Johnson. Leiston began the second period strongly and after Smy forced Wright into a low save, Heath snatched his shot over after Wright’s punch had fell to him from Boardley’s cross. A minute after the hour the home side had a good call for a penalty as Ottley-Gooch collected Smy’s diagonal pass, cut inside but his shot struck the arm of Turpin but incredibly nothing was given. Six minutes later the visitors were level, Dark’s free kick into the box was met by Turpin whose powerful header was brilliantly saved by Johnson but Gardner bundled home the loose ball from close range. The goal was against the run of play and for a few minutes the visitors bossed but Leiston responded with a rasping half volley from Boardley that was not far wide. Leiston pushed hard for the three points and in the final minute almost got them. M Brothers right wing throw was flicked on by Head across goal for Driver but with the goal at his mercy he somehow headed over.

A battling point against a physical Redbridge side. The Blues deserved more for their enterprise but Redbridge battled hard to keep their play-off hopes alive. But with second placed Enfield defeated against Harlow, this was a point gained and an eight point gap now with five games remaining.

Report courtesy of Leiston FC

Redbridge: Joe Wright, William Sendall, Jamie Haywood (Joe Bricknell 71), Matt Turpin, Aarun Best, Michael Toner, Joe Gardner, Lewis Dark, Daniel Hopkins, James Robinson, Mitchell Das (Shane Wyllie 57).