Redbridge entertained Ilford in this local derby as they took to the field for the first time since early December after several postponed matches over the last few weeks.

Kurt Smith was making his return to the club as he looked to partner Hassan Nalbant in attack and it was the home side who made the brighter start to the match.

A free-kick was whipped in from the left hand side which caused panic in the Foxes defence although eventually cleared. Further pressure continued from Redbridge as a corner was swung in which was deflected up onto the crossbar and away to safety.

Ilford eventually got forwards and their skipper Dominic Wynter-Stephens tried his luck with a powerful drive which was well parried by Florent Gislette in the home goal.

Redbridge immediately went on the attack with a quick break releasing James Barlow out on the left but his shot was blocked by a defender.

At the other end the ball fell kindly to Tela Trivelato who tried to curl the ball around Gislette however he was equal to it and made the save.

Connor Okus rifled an effort wide for the home side before he picked up the ball before coming forward with a powerful run which saw him release Nalbant who did well to turn a defender and get hi shot in but it was well held by Jordan Stansbury.

Another chance then came and went as Timi Abiola played through Nalbant who used his body to let the ball run into the path of Okus but Stansbury once again was quickly out of his goal and thwarted the effort.

The half time whistle blew as Ilford were much the happier side coming in at the break with the score remaining goalless.

Redbridge started the second period strongly forcing a series of corners and from one of those thought they had taken the lead when Joe Maskell turned and shot through a crowded penalty box but Stansbury got down well to his left and saved on the line.

The deadlock was eventually broken on 63 minutes however it was the away side who scored it, a ball over the top caught out the Redbridge back line and Gislette and defender Jack Blackledge got themselves in a muddle which allowed Ilford substitute Jeffrey Cobblah to find space and simply fire home into an empty net.

The home side however were not behind for long , Cobblah was disposed in the middle of the pitch by Redbridge substitute Liam Burgess who found and he squared the ball into the path of Smith who had time to control and pick his spot firing low into the corner of the net.

Fellow sub Charles Opoku then evaded several challenges as he waltzed into the box but his effort was blocked which took the pace out of it and dropped gratefully into the hands of Stanbsury.

With just five minutes remaining Redbridge through they had won the three points when a free kick from Burgess took a massive deflection off a defenders head and looped up over Stanbsury into the goal , it was massive slick of luck but they all count!!

Ilford showed good character however to pull themselves back onto the match and equaliser when a corner was knocked down onto the goal line and although the ball was cleared it fell straight to Larry Akanbi who blasted the ball home.

Redbridge still had time for one more chances as a cross was whipped in from the right finding Burgess who managed to get a headed which bounced down into the ground and looked to be heading into the far corner but Ilford man of the match Stansbury once again proved his worth and clawed the effort away to save his side a valuable point.

report by Adam Silver