To make matters worse two ex-Motormen got amongst the goals!

Redbridge skipper Nikki Beale picked up a booking after 3 minutes when he clipped Joao Carlos just outside the box when the winger was just to aim a shot towards goal. Referee David Margetts decided to book the experienced centre-half despite the home support’s pleas to hand out a red-card.

The resulting free-kick was blocked but it didn’t take long for Grays noisy support to have something to cheer about as on 10 minutes they took the lead. A good move ended with Carlos being fouled by Shane Lemard inside the box. Margetts correctly awarded the penalty which Danny Bunce struck home despite Dean Neil correctly guessing the right way.

Jacob Cleaver was working hard up front providing a great outlet for Redbridge. The forward did well to create a chance for himself on the edge of the box after receiving the ball from Ryan Reed but failed to get enough power on his shot which trickled neatly into the arms of Lamaar Johnson in the Grays goal.

Grays doubled their lead on 21 minutes when after a short-corner Bunce whipped in a cross into the area which Jared Small glanced in for his second of the season. It was a neat header from the forward who was a fringe-player at the Oakside under Dean Holdsworth in 2007/08.

Small almost created a third for Grays on a break-away shortly after but keeper Neill bravely denied Jeff Hammond – another ex-Redbridge forward – from close-range. He was winded as a result and had to receive some treatment on the field as a result.

The woodwork came to Redbridge’s rescue just before the break as Lemard deflected a Carlos cross onto the bar. His block saved a certain goal as Hammond was waiting to pounce at the back-post for a tap-in.

Redbridge suffered a nightmare start to the second-half as Hammond deservedly got on the score-sheet a minute after the restart. The striker did well to turn Beale inside the box after good work by Small and struck his shot past Neil at the keeper’s near-post. Remarkably that was the hitman’s 5th goal of the season against his old club, as he hit all four of Harlow’s goals against the Motormen back in November.

Shortly after Carlos struck a brilliant shot from 30 yards against the post, Del Robinson made changes to freshen up Redbridge as Anthony Okadigbo and Robbie Rees came on. Both players joined their team-mates in making life tough for Grays in an effort to keep the score-down as the Motormen continued to work hard until the full-time whistle.

In the closing stages Grays sub Brian Moses headed wide from close-range with Antony McDonald and Sam Holloway seeing efforts go wide for the Motormen who will now look forward to two home games against Thamesmead Town and Ilford this week, which are both opportunities to pick up much-need points.

Dean Neil, Stephen Ikumelo, Charlie Rolls, Antony McDonald, Shane Lemard, Nikki Beale, Danny Hayes ( Anthony Okadigbo ), Sam Holloway, Jacob Cleaver, Garry Skerritt, Ryan Reed ( Robbie Rees ).

Click here for Del Robinson's post-match interview with Adam Dennehey.