Ilford took the lead on six minutes when Jody Banim’s fee-kick proved too hot the handle for Dean Neil in goal. Ilford forward Usama Hamdan was the quickest to react to the loose ball and fired it into the net past keeper Neill.

Redbridge though came right back at Ilford. Ryan Reed started brightly and a good run from the winger picked out Jacob Cleaver outside the area but his chipped effort went over the bar. Shortly after Robbie Rees saw an effort from the right of the area go over too.

The experienced Gary Skerrit was next to see an effort go over the bar, with his ambitious shot on the turn going over as Redbridge continued to threaten the home goal. In midfield alongside the experienced Skerrit was Anthony Okadigbo who would impress throughout the game on his first start for the club.

Another fine run by Reed saw the winger beat three Ilford players with the ball as he ran in from the wing to the edge of the box. His slide-rule pass found Cleaver inside the area but his shot was saved well by the onrushing Daniel Mbaku in the Foxes goal.

Seconds before the break Ilford almost scored a second when Banim drove forward with the ball in midfield., with no Redbridge player going to close him down, the experienced midfielder struck a great 25 yard striker narrowly wide of Neill’s near-hand post.

Redbridge came out of the blocks well in the second-half. Charlie Portway was brought on for Lewis Webster just after the break and the youngster would have made his dad prod when he levelled the scores on 64 minutes, having only been on the pitch for 9 minutes.

Seconds after dealing with an Ilford corner, Redbridge broke clear with Robbie Rees beautifully picking out Portway’s attacking run into the Ilford half. With Mbaku rushing out to deal with the ball the young forward waited until just the right moment to lob home from 20 yards with the ball creeping into the net just at the very last moment.

Dad no doubt would have been proud of his son’s finish which showed brilliant composure under pressure. Soon after Steve Portway brought himself on for the lively Okadigbo but frustratingly within a minute of his arrival, Ilford retook the lead.

A scrappy cross ended with an equally scrappy effort from Banim which was turned in by Hamdan. It was the striker’s second of the game meaning that Ilford only had to see out the last quarter of the game to claim the three points and their first victory in 20 games.

It was an even more unlucky goal to concede considering moments before-hand Charlie Portway came close to getting a second but couldn't quite get a long ball under his feet with a chance at goal begging.

Despite some good spells of possession on the ball Redbridge couldn't quite muster a clear goalscoring opportunity other than a Steve Portway free-kick from 30 yards out which Mbaku did well to smother.

Redbridge will now move onto face Wroxham at home at the weekend, a game which they need no motivation to pick up points having fallen to second-bottom after the defeat, leaving them 1 point above Ware.

Redbridge: Dean Neil, Antony McDonald, Charlie Rolls, Antony Okadigbo (Steve Portway), Stephen Ikumelo, Danny Hayes, Ryan Reed, Gary Skerrit, Robbie Rees (Michael Bowditch), Lewis Webster (Charlie Portway).

By Adam Dennehey