The Motormen made the short trip down to Ilford’s Cricklefield ground to face their old rivals Barkingside who were in desperate need for points in their bid to avoid relegation from the Essex Senior League.

A minute silence took place prior to kick off to remember the sad passing of celebrity TV star Mike Thalassitis who was friendly with some members of the Redbridge team and this was impeccably observed by the healthy crowd in attendance swelled by a group of 30 sports management students visiting from the States.

Early pressure from Redbridge saw Charleston Browne put a dangerous cross into the box but experienced keeper Ryan Karrer was out quickly to claim.

Barkingside then came forward but could only muster a half chance when Elliott Scott headed wide from a tight angle. Dan Gilchrist then ran towards goal and saw his shot deflected just wide for a corner.

The home side then were awarded a free kick after Liam Burgess had held back Joe Oates, up stepped Joe Thomas who shot wide. Redbridge broke up the other end and were then awarded a free kick of their own which Connor Okus superbly fired past the despairing dive of Karrer to open the scoring.

Things quickly went from bad to worse for Barkingside as a misplaced ball from Dean Hall was deftly headed back across goal by Petrit Elbi and dropped over Karrer into the net.

Redbridge were now well in control and full back Marcus Carter was looking to get forward at every opportunity as he played a neat one-two passing move before shooting wide.

The home side then had their best chance of the match when Riccardo Baily came inside from a wide position but saw his curling effort dip the wrong side of the bar.

Elbi was then presented with a golden opportunity to grab his second goal when put through clear one on one with Karrer but he took a heavy touch on the bobbly pitch and the keeper was able to make the save.

Into the second half and Redbridge continued to posses the greatest threat and almost scored when a corner was floated in finding Okus who saw his initial header blocked before his second effort was pushed onto the bar by Karrer and then away to safety.

Barkingside came forward as a dangerous ball was put across the penalty box just evading James Ross who was stretching at the far post.

They did pull a goal back when Oates fired home a spectacular effort leaving Rhys Hughes in goal stranded to the spot , it was certainly what the home side needed and they now pushed forward in search of an equaliser.

They came closest to it when skipper Harry Matthews saw his shot from outside the box well turned around the post by the diving Hughes, the resulting corner came in finding Ross who forced a good save from the Redbridge keeper.

Redbridge were certainly living dangerously, and it was the home side who looked most likely to score the next goal, but it was Redbridge and Elbi again who got it when he took advantage of a defensive mix up between Karrer and a defender to nip in at the back post and poke home.

That goal really knocked the stuffing out of Barkingside who conceded when they were on top and Redbridge now pressed forward in search of a fourth, Okus seeing his corner come back off the crossbar .

David Ottley then had a chance as his shot took a deflection off Dean Hall which required the intervention of Hughes who was almost wrong footed but did enough to tip the ball around the post.

Hughes then punched clear a free kick which dropped to Jones who fired wide before the same player fired across goal from a tight angle.

Redbridge looked to wrap the game but Browne and substitute Paul Preston both spurned efforts before Elbi finished things after Preston unselfishly squared the ball across the goal where he had time and space to fire home and grab his hat trick.

The win was the Motormen’s 3rd consecutive game with the same score line and they now move up to the lofty heights of 10th place.

report by Adam Silver