The Motormen were looking to bounce back from their midweek defeat at Woodford Town as they hosted Sawbridgeworth Town whom were sitting one place above them in the ESL table.

Coming into the team from that match were Daniel McCullock and Charleston Browne whilst Kai Heather was out injured and Dan Gilchrist started on the bench.
The first chance fell to the home side when Petrit Elbi showed neat skill in beating his man before curling an effort which drifted just wide of the far post.

A chance at the other end followed when a misplaced clearance from Jon Watson saw the ball fall invitingly to Julian Lloyd unmarked but his headed lacked power and was easily gathered by Rhys Hughes.

A short corner then saw Liam Burgess cross to the far post finding Browne lurking , he connected well but his header was well pushed away by James Askew before the loose ball fell to McCullock who curled his attempt wide.

A great ball over the top found Elbi in space , he looked up and crossed to the far post finding McCullock who managed to cut inside his man but then delayed shooting and his final effort floated wide.

Redbridge continued to have all the play and Elbi out muscled a defender to the ball before squaring to an unmarked Tombides who seemed destined to score however drilled the effort wide only for the assistant on the far side spared his blushes as he raised his flag for offside.
Sawbridgeworth then had their best chance when a free-kick was floated in before being knocked down into the path of Ollie Fortune who proceeded to head straight into the welcome arms of Hughes.

Redbridge then came straight back up the other end and made them pay for that miss when a poor defensive pass was presented straight to Tombides who had time to look up and fire a lovely effort past the flying dive of Askew
to open the scoring.
A scare then followed for the home side as a long throw on dropped into the penalty box which Hughes got a hand to but the ball fell invitingly to an opposing player however the eventual shot drifted wide.

It was soon two for Redbridge as good play by Elbi saw him come forward playing a return pass with a team mate before crossing into the path of Connor Okus in the middle who made no mistake from close range.
Danny Wickenden then brought the ball up field for Sawbridgeworth but his shot sailed wide before Liam Burgess saw his corner almost beat Askew but drifted just wide.
Billy Willis came forward down the left flank and put over a deep cross which flew in over the head of Askew who was stuck to his line expecting a cross, intended or not only Willis will know but either way it was a third for the Motormen.

Into the second half and a big chance for Redbridge as Elbi released Tombides who with just Askew to beat fired wide. He made amends however when he scored his second of the game from the next passage of play after good work by Elbi and McCullock saw them combine well as a cross was put over which he slotted home.

Tombides once again was in the thick of the action and this time only the upright denied him the hat-trick after initial good work by Watson put out wide

The away side were having their best spell of the match as a good ball from ex Motormen Lindisipho Mtyanda found Lloyd but his cross was wasteful and sailed wide before Louis Monk released the same player but this time his shot lacked power and was gathered by Hughes down low at his near post.

Substitutions from both sides soon changed the intensity of the game and the closest we came to another goal was when Fortune shot from distance his effort was always rising.

Tombides saw his shot easily gathered after sub Gilchrist initial effort was deflected before Ethan Barton fired over for the visitors.

Into injury time and the away side did grab a consolation goal when good work by Lloyd saw his shot parried by Hughes back out to sub Louie Kenny who fired home, although the home side would have been disappointed to conceded they could be happy with their overall day’s work which resulted in another three points and now seem them close the gap on today’s opponents to just one point.

report by Adam Silver