There was late heartache for the Motormen as Richard Butler’s effort four minutes into stoppage time broke home hearts.

It was the league’s bottom side – playing a team in third place - that started brightly and in Jacob Cleaver they’ll always have a goal scoring threat.

They took the lead in the eighth minute when a good ball over the top from Billy Hendy was brought down by Cleaver and he fired superbly past former Ilford goalkeeper Rob Budd.

But Redbridge failed to build on that start as the visitors came back into the game and only a last ditch tackle from Charlie Rolls thwarted Stuart Zanone from opening his account for the night in the 28th minute.

Chances continued to come the way of Mead and six minutes later they were level when home goalkeeper Michael Bowditch’s poor clearance fell straight at the feet of Baff Addae, who played in Zanone and his shot struck the post.

But the ball went across goal and another former Ilford man Rob Carter was on hand to tap in.

And much to the hosts disappointment they then fell behind four minutes later in a nightmare spell when a ball through to Zanone saw him pace away from the Redbridge defence and shoot low past Bowditch.

The closest Redbridge came to equalising was in first half stoppage time when Budd was at his best to deny Lamar Lemonius’ header from a corner.

Lea Dawson wasted a good chance for Thamesmead straight after the break but Cleaver again finished superbly as Redbridge levelled on 54 minutes. A great ball through from Antony McDonald found Cleaver who paced away from the visiting defence and lobbed Budd – carrying an injury from a first half clash with one of his own defenders – though the keeper did get a hand to the effort but not enough to stop it nestling in the back of the net.

Bowditch denied Dawson when he tipped over his header from former Redbridge boy Jay Porter’s corner on the hour mark, before the same player went close again with another header.

And their persistence paid off when a ball into the box found Zanone and his shot was blocked by the onrushing Bowditch.

But with little knowledge the effort rebounded and hit Zanone once again before trickling over the line

The game then hit a quiet spell but six minutes from time it looked as though Redbridge had picked up a great point but in bizarre circumstances.

A hopeful ball into the box was slammed past his own keeper by Butler and the Motormen were level.

Time was ticking down but disaster struck in the fourth minute of stoppage time, in similar circumstance to the loss at home to Grays earlier this year.

A corner was floated in, the home defence failed to clear it and Butler made amends for his earlier own goal by firing home in a bitter blow for the Motormen as they missed out on what could have been a valuable point.

Report courtesy of Colin Munford, Ilford Recorder