An own goal was enough to secure the three points for the Motormen against a battling Erith and Belvedere side.
Both sides came into the game having only played 48hrs previously, Erith & Belvedere were looking to avoid a second consecutive defeat at the Oakside having been beaten 3-0 by Barkingside on Tuesday evening.

The opponents were in desperate need of points as they looked to climb away from the relegations positions and they showed encouragement with a good start although to their frustration kept seeing striker Tyler Christian-Law being flagged for offside.

The first highlight for the Motormen came midway through the half when the lively Ben Bradbury found Daniel Francis who turned his marker but shot straight at Sturgeon in goal.

Moments later Abs Thompson appeared to be tripped as he tricked his way into the area but the referee Elliott Kaye waved away the home side’s appeals.

Erith and Belvedere then wasted their best chance thus far when Reis Boyle blasted over from a corner, you could tell from his reaction what a glorious chance it was. As the half ended the away side thought they had scored as the ball looked to cross the line but Dean Driscoll was holding onto the ball and had been fouled in the process so the goal was not given.

Redbridge came out in the 2nd half knowing they were lucky not to have conceded and needed to up the tempo if they were going to get anything out the match.

The decisive goal finally came on 60minutes and it was an Erith player who scored it. Bradbury did well out wide whipping in a delightful cross looking for Francis but Boyle was there first and he could not avoid heading the ball past Sturgeon into his own net.

Patrick Damali almost made it 2-0 but saw his thunderous effort come crashing back off a post before Bradbury’s low effort was easily saved. Both sides made substitutions but chances were few and far between and although the away side put in the effort they lacked the quality to really test the Redbridge back line,

The match will hardly be remembered as a classic and with a poor attendance of just 26 on the night the Motormen will just be glad to get another fixture out the way with 3 more points to their name.

Report by Adam Silver