The Motormen began life without manager Micky Wetherall as they hosted Sporting Bengal United at the Oakside. Taking charge were 1st team coaches Jack Hayes and Nick Harding whom were looking for a reaction after last week's horror show in defeat to Ilford.

New signing Teddy Henderson was brought straight into the opening line up whilst Joe Maskell wore the captain’s armband.

Redbridge looked nervy in the opening exchanges with the early pressure coming from the away side.

The closest either side came to a goal was when from a corner David Tarawali rose highest to loop his header over the bar.

Redbridge had a great chance of their own also from a set piece when a corner was not cleared by the Bengal defense saw the loose ball at the feet of Maskell who could only manage to fire over from close range.

A long ball over the top almost caught the Redbridge back line napping however keeper George Martin came out his box quickly to clear the danger just before Curtley McIntosh was able to get a touch.

The deadlock was then broken as Redbridge opened the scoring , a corner was swung in from Sam Dickens and James Barlow found space and nodded home past Aires Ferreira to give his side the lead.

The goal as often the case can change the ascendancy which was not with the home side and Henderson made space for himself putting a shot just wide of the upright.

Sporting Bengal broke up field through Emerson Mario D’jar who was brought down just outside the area, Carlos Hubnar stepped up to take the free kick and although his effort was blocked the ball fell kindly into the path of Freddy Tandon who fired past a stranded Martin.

His side’s celebrations were however cut short when they noticed the official on the far side had his flag raised for what looked like an offside decision and the goal was disallowed.

Hubnar then saw his shot firmly held by Martin before the half time whistle was blown as Redbridge left the field taking a slender lead into the break.

Hubnar fired an early effort over for the away side before Redbridge went up the other end and doubled their advantage.

Barlow played a ball through splitting the Bengal defence finding the run of substitute Terry Amaofu who was on hand to tap home into an empty net with what was his first touch of the match.

Moments later and the same player thought he had scored again but just like Sporting Bengal’s 1st half effort it was chalked off for a potential offside call.

Defender Jack Blackledge saw his run halted as he was brought down just outside the box, Dickens stepped up and curled his free kick just over.
Pandemonium then followed in the Sporting Bengal area as the ball pinged around before finally dropping to Chikosi Basden who low drive whistled past the post.

Barlow then found himself free after escaping the defense, but his attempted lob fell away from goal.

At the other end Sporting Bengal were awarded a free kick from over 30 yards out, nothing seemed on until substitute Joel Ramos ran and fiercely struck the ball past Martin who although managed to get both hands to it found the effort too powerful to turn away.

Redbridge had now gone from what looked like a comfortable lead to now having a nervy final 10 minutes as Sporting Bengal looked to push for an unlikely equaliser.

As the match went into injury time the away side were awarded a penalty when Olanji Ayoola was deemed to have committed a foul in the box much to the annoyance of him and his fellow team mates, up stepped Ramos to take the penalty wrong footing Martin to level the scores.

Just as Redbridge were trying to work out how they had let a 2 goal lead slip the unthinkable happened and they conceded for a 3rd time.

From their own corner the ball was cleared up the other end of the pitch to Ant Murray-Bruce who looked to put a ball over the top and although Basden looked likely to intercept he made a hash of his clearance presenting the ball to substitute Leo Viera who crossed into the middle finding an unmarked Ramos who was on hand to head home his hat-trick and complete the turnaround for Sporting Bengal.

Redbridge players dropped to the floor as they saw victory snatched away from them at the death and will need to pick themselves up and go again at the weekend when attention turns to the FA Vase where they host May & Baker EC Community.

report by Adam Silver