Redbridge hosted their second local derby of the week as they faced Woodford Town who brought with them a small but very vocal travelling away support.

Lining up in goal for the hosts was Joseph Palmer who due to injuries became the fourth keeper to wear the number 1 shirt in just our fourth game of the season. The first chance of the evening fell to Redbridge when striker Ibrahim Kehinde looked to curl a free kick however it fell just over the bar.

Woodford then came forward through the lively Ramiah Mills, he ran onto a ball over the top before cutting inside a defender however only succeeded in putting his shot wide of the upright. The away side were starting to take a foot hold in the game and caused some panic at the back for Redbridge with their long throw-ins , one of which was headed over the top.

At the other end Abdishakur Farah found the run of Herman Mwanza who tried to round Lee Haylock in the Woodford goal however was driven wide before pulling the ball back into the path of Kehinde who saw his first time shot blocked by a defender.

The deadlock was broken after 19 minutes, a poor pass in midfield by Redbridge fell straight into the path of Mills who ran goal bound and with everyone expecting a cross he blasted his effort past a stranded Palmer to give his side the lead.

Soon after it was the same player Mills who was almost through again and although he managed to get a shot away it hit a defender and rolled out for a corner before Jaydon Charles managed a shot which required Palmer to make the save with his feet.

It was so far a poor display by the home side who were looking slightly off the pace but were soon handed a lifeline in the way of a penalty , Farah did well on the left hand side before putting the ball over to Kehinde who was brought crashing to the ground.

He dusted himself off and placed the ball on the spot before sending Haylock the wrong way to level the scores as he grabbed his 3rd goal of the season.

Mills had the last chance of the 1st half as once again he used his pace and skill looking to cut inside from wide before shooting which this time lacked fell kindly into the arms of Palmer.

From the off in the second period Redbridge looked more lively, full back Bradley Bennett overlapped down the right flank before putting over a good ball to the far post searching for Farah who played the ball back
into the middle before it was eventually cleared to safety.

Woodford showed they were still very much in the game when once again danger man Mills easily beat his man before firing in a low cross which just failed to reach anyone in a yellow shirt.

A great chance then went begging for Redbridge, a long ball over the top found the run of Kehinde who was suddenly all alone in acres of space with just Haylock in goal to beat , he however decided to take the wrong option in shooting early which lacked any conviction and was easily gathered by the Woodford keeper.

The home side then made a substitution as Robbie Norris entered the field, his first touch was to take an in swinging free kick from the left which found Shaun Harris who saw his powerful leave Haylock with no chance to give his side the lead.

In an almost carbon copy of that goal another free kick was again whipped in by Norris, the ball was flicked on and this time however it found defender Dean Hall who rose highest to nod home his first goal for the club and create a two goal cushion.

Redbridge were now in the ascendency as Norris was looking to pull the strings in midfield putting a lovely pass through to Kehinde but Haylock rushed from his goal to deny the striker.

Fellow Redbridge sub Tim Ogunrinde then did well to win a free kick for his side which Farah blasted over before Woodford Town had a free kick of their own however it was completely wasted and ended up just being kicked out of play with nobody looking to make a run.

It was Ogunrinde who put the final nail in the Woodford coffin , a simple ball over the top caught the defence asleep and Ogunrinde reacted quickest and although his initial effort was well saved he managed to fire home the rebound to make it 4-1.

Woodford did however have the final say of the match, Mills saw a shot hit the inside of the post and cleared away for a corner which was swung in and thumped home by their substitute James Bayo although it was not enough to complete a comeback as the full time whistle was soon blown.

report by Adam Silver