Redbridge went into this rescheduled fixture knowing a point would be enough to avoid the drop and keep them in the Ryman One North but in the end a narrow 1-0 defeat should be just enough to secure their safety.

Aveley started the stronger of the teams and as much as Redbridge needed the points at the bottom of the table they required a win to try and get back into the play off positions. Striker Jordan Cox was looking a real handful for the Redbridge back line and he really should have opened the scoring early on when he was put through one on one with Dean Neil but his shot ended up closer to the corner flag than the back of the net.

Minutes later and he was once again presented with a chance but this time Neil was equal to it and got down well to save. Ex Redbridge player Ade Cole then picked the ball up in his own half and proceeded to run the whole length of the field avoiding several challenges before finding himself through on goal, he dinked the ball over the oncoming keeper but James Yeboah was on hand to sweep away the danger.

The loud home crowd then thought they should have been awarded a penalty when it appeared Junior Appiah was bundled to the floor under a heavy challenge but the referee waived away the appeals. The home side were passing the ball around well and were making it difficult for Redbridge to get into the game and they seemed content on playing the long ball up top trying to find strikers Jacob Cleaver and Jason Dobbs.
The Motomen then had their best chance of the half when a Charlie Rolls corner found their captain Lemar Lemonius unmarked and he rose highest but his powerful header went wide of the post with keeper Andy Hall stranded.

Just before the half time break the deadlock was broken when Aveley’s Jack Stevenson scored, he started and finished the move which saw a pattern of nice passing before the ball was placed back into his path and he was able to curl the ball home which saw him and his team mates immediately run to the bench to celebrate.

Into the second half and the match never really sparked into life as Aveley started for some reason trying to play the long ball over the top much to the dismay of some of their home supporters. Their best effort came when another ex-Redbridge player Petrit Elbi brought out a fine diving save from Neil who tipped the ball over the bar.

The home side continued to dominate proceedings without really looking threating enough to increase their lead whilst Redbridge looked like they were happy to put men behind the ball knowing that by keeping the score down to just the one goal would probably be enough for them to secure their Ryman position next season.

They can now go into their final match of the season at home to AFC Sudbury at the weekend knowing a point will be enough although at the same time only a heavy defeat twinned with a large victory for fellow strugglers Ilford at Tilbury could now send them down.