Redbridge to their credit started well and the in-form Ryan Wade was unlucky to see a shot from a tight angle inside the area creep narrowly wide of the far post before Joe Gardner saw an effort blocked at the near post from close tange.

Wade was unlucky along with his strike partner Gardner to miss out on getting a tough on Nathan Gordon’s cross from the right after the powerful winger had beaten his marker Rafael Kaphooris to whip the ball across the box.

It took Ilford 25 minutes to test Redbridge at the back. After Obenga Sonoga had headed narrowly wide from a corner, Danny Gabriel tested Joe Wright into a fantastic save from inside the penalty area. The rebound went straight to Rob Carter who comically struck the post.

With half-time looming, Redbridge took the lead. A free-kick from the right delivered into the area by Vinnie Durrant caused problems and referee Mr O’Donnell awarded a penalty after pushing in the box. Ben Bradbury stepped up sending Budd the wrong way for his 14th goal of the season.

To the disappointment of the home fans, Ilford came out looking more determined after the break and shortly after being lucky not to go 2-0 down - when Gardner’s cross flashed across goal before neither Wade nor Bradbury could deflect it in at the back post – grabbed an equaliser.

Decent play on by Kaphooris and former Redbridge-man Shane Stamp down the left ended with the former crossing the ball into the box for the experienced Carter to head home into the far corner. There was nothing Wright in goal could have done to save it.

Wright in goal did well to tip a strike by Carter out for a corner which former Redbridge midfielder Jonathan Glowacki met with a header which was cleared off the line. Redbridge were now on the back-foot and looking suspect at the back.

With 13 minutes remaining Ilford took the lead. A break left gaps open in Redbridge’s defence and after Stamp cut in from the left to see a shot blocked, Glowacki struck a first-time 25-yard shot into the top right-hand corner of the net to cap his return to the Oakside.

Despite the introductions of Ryan Murray and Shane Wyllie, Redbridge were unable to force Budd into a save as Ilford hung on blocking multiple shots before surviving a late free-kick to condemn the Motormen to a frustrating defeat.

Redbridge: Joe Wright, Jamie Haywood, Vinnie Durrant, Matt Turpin, Glen Golby, Daniel Hopkins (Lewis Dark 66), Ben Bradbury, Michael Toner, Joe Gardner (Shane Wyllie 82), Ryan Wade (Ryan Murray 82), Nathan Gordon.