Redbridge made the short journey up the M11 to play Harlow Town on their new 4G pitch and would have felt disappointed to come away with just a point.

It was the away side started strongest and Ben Bradbury had the first chance which he made himself creating space but his effort lacked accuracy and went wide. Redbridge continued to have the better possession and both Les Thompson with his pace and Geoffrey Mitchell with his physical presence were causing Harlow all sorts of problems.

The home side had to wait until the 25th minute before their first chance which fell to James Dadson out wide and his cross-cum shot fizzed through the goalmouth avoiding everyone.

Redbridge almost took the lead soon after when Mitchell headed past the out rushing James Dodge who had his defender to thank as he cleared off the line. On 36 minutes however the away side's dominance finally paid off when Emiel Aiken floated in a delightful cross which Mitchell headed home leaving the keeper clasping at thin air.

Just before the break came a moment of controversy which led to Redbridge being awarded a penalty after Patrick Damali was alleged to have been brought down in the area. The defender in question accused the Redbridge player of diving in order to gain the penalty and let his frustration show which led to both players squaring cup to each other with arms raised. The referee showed some common sense in just booking both players when easily he could of sent both players from the field.

The drama however had only just began when the resulting penalty taken by Eljay Worrell was well saved by the diving Dodge. The ball however was back with Redbridge and as the cross came straight back in there was Worrell to head home to atone for his missed penalty just moments earlier, the goal certainly silenced the loud home crowd who thought they had survived the scare.

Into the 2nd half and it was always going to see a stronger display from Harlow who had been kept very quiet thus far but it was Redbridge who almost made it 3-0 but Mitchell's headed was once again cleared off the line.

The home side were dealt a life line on 58 minutes when from nothing Alex Read picked the ball up fully 30 yards outside the area and with Dean Driscoll off his line tried his luck which saw the ball whizz past the keeper into the back of the net, it was the ex Redbridge man's 12th goal of the season.

As the saying goes goals change games and it was now Harlow who were looking most likely to score and this time it was Redbridge who had to clear off their line.

Two Redbridge subs then together created a chance which should have have killed off the game , Abs Thompson did well out wide and his cross found the unmarked Daniel Charge who with just the goalkeeper to beat lifted his effort over the bar and out the ground.

How costly a miss that proved to be as the home side went up the other end and equalised in the 90th minute through James Smith. Both sides had further chances in the dying moments to win the game but in the the they had to settle for a point apiece

Report by Adam Silver