Heybridge looked determined from the start to get their first win of the season, pressing and containing Redbridge from kick-off.

The away side opened the scoring after just 8 minutes. The Redbridge defence failed to clear their lines, leaving Jon Edwards to venture forward and strike a wonderful half-volley into the net from just outside the box. A great effort, 1-0 Heybridge.

Just 3 minutes later Heybridge had doubled their lead. Terence Amas whipped in a corner to the front post onto the head of Michael Cheek, who finished with a firm header, 2-0 Heybridge

Redbridge’s first chance came around the 25 minute mark. Alfie Dady chipped in a free-kick towards the back post, the ball was flicked on by skipper Nicki Beale and fell to the feet of a crowded Theo Collard-Peters. He struck the ball on the half-volley through a group of players but unfortunately flashed wide of the left upright.

As the match approached the half-hour mark Heybridge grabbed their third goal. Striker Luke Callandar latched onto a through ball and lobbed the on-rushing Bowditch with a delicate finish. Another great finish, 3-0 Heybridge.

Heybridge winger Solomon Ofori had shown some blistering pace and some creative runs with the ball. Just before half-time Ofori cut inside from the left wing and unleashed a curling effort that just sailed wide of the far post.

Half-Time – Alfie Dady had shown some first-class touches for Redbridge throughout the first half, with some fine passes to match but Heybridge looked determined to secure their first win of the campaign.

Substitutes at the interval – Steve Portway made a double substitution, introducing Nicky Barrett and Danny Hayes with Ike Nzuruba and Sibu Muwanga making way.

The away side started quicker in the second half and were rewarded with a fourth goal in the 49th minute. Ben Newson whipped in a cross towards Michael Cheek, ‘keeper Bowditch began to come out but changed his mind and with Cheek running in on goal he was brought down by Bowditch and awarded a penalty. The decision looked contentious but it looked like referee Gary Masnell made the right call.

Luke Callandar stepped up and converted with a low drilled strike, ‘keeper Bowditch guessed the right direction but the strike was too powerful to keep out, 4-0 Heybridge.

Callandar could have grabbed his third three minutes later. Michael Cheek did well to dig out a cross from the right, the ball evaded everyone but set itself up perfectly for Callandar to finish from inside the 6-yard box but he scuffed the shot wide.

Heybridge manager Mark Hawkes brought off Michael Cheek on the hour mark, replacing him with Russell Malton. Shortly after, the Hawkes made another sub, Chris Moore made way for former Redbridge winger Shane Stamp.

On the 65 minutes Heybridge began to run riot as major cracks started to appear in the Redbridge defence. Ben Newson received the ball inside the box and struck for goal but his first effort was blocked by Timothy Williams. Newson reacted quickest to the rebound, and with ‘keeper Bowditch out of position, he finished from an acute angle almost on the right by-line into an empty net, 5-0 Heybridge.

Heybridge could have had their sixth in the 7rd minute. Newson whipped in another cross from the right wing and Callandar side-footed the ball into the net from inside the 6-yard box, but the linesman had his flag raised and the goal was disallowed for offside.

Dady continued to pull the string for Redbridge in the centre; he was involved in the majority of Redbridge’s positive possession.

Possibly Redbridge’s best chance came in the 77th minute. Skipper Nicki Beale executed a fine long-range pass towards the advancing Theo Collard-Peters. He connected with ball just inside the area on the right but unfortunately couldn’t control his volleyed effort which he fired over. It was positive play from the home side, a great ball in and a good effort.

From the resulting goal-kick Heybridge went straight down the other end and scored their sixth goal. Ben Newson and Callandar had been simply too much to handle throughout the match and linked up again with 13 minutes remaining. The pair played a smart one-two that sliced through the Redbridge defence, leaving Newson in on goal to calmly slot the ball in, 6-0 Heybridge.

Dady picked up a yellow card with 10 minutes remaining for a late tackle which the Heybridge player reacted badly to. Callandar completed his hat-trick in the 84th minute. Shane Stamp floated in a high cross from the left wing and Callandar powered his header past Bowditch, nobody in red looked like they wanted to win the header, 7-0 Heybridge.

The defensive performance was epitomised in one moment in the 89th minute as Heybridge fired in their eighth goal. Shane Stamp found himself in an advanced position on the left wing and produced a low cross into the area. The cross didn’t look capable of getting past Shane Lemard at the front post but he missed a simple interception and the ball bounced through to Callandar who blasted the ball into the roof of the net, 8-0 Heybridge.

Full-Time – The Motormen were quite simply outclassed here, Heybridge were allowed to get into their stride early on and didn’t look like slipping up. The away side clearly wanted the points more than Redbridge as the score-line shows.

Positives to take into the next match – Dady had a decent game, he showed some skilful touches and beat numerous opponents, he also showed a range of good passing. Redbridge will need to improve their quality of possession ahead of this Saturday’s match at home to Soham Town Rangers. More often than not the ball was played long with no real direction, wasting possession. That will have to be worked on before then.

By Lewis Edwards – @LCEdw

Click here for Adam D's interview with our joint-manager Steve Portway from after the game.