Redbridge ended a run of five consecutive home games by facing yet another newly promoted side in White Ensign.

The home side were almost gifted an early goal when captain James Barlow robbed Ensign keeper Frankie Worboys before squaring into the path of Robbie Norris who tried to pick his spot but was denied by a defender who managed to clear off the line.

Timothy Ogunrinde then came forward before his shot was deflected into the path of Abdishakur Farah who hit the ball time looking for the far corner only to be denied by a good save from Worboys.

Shaun Harris then put fired over a good cross searching for Farah who saw his volleyed effort blocked before Jake Brocklebank was fouled just outside the box, the resulting free kick taken by Norris was put out for a corner.

It was all one way traffic at the moment and a nice passing move from Redbridge saw Jack Roult send a lovely long pass up field which found the run of Farah , he in turn found Ogunrinde who shot straight at the keeper.

Worboys was certainly earning any appearance money as he was called on yet again this time palming away a curling drive from Farah.

The pressure however finally did tell as Redbridge opened the scoring after 20 minutes, Farah then played a lovely cross field ball into Ogunrinde who turned inside a defender before shooting into the far corner of the net to give his side a well deserved lead.

Ensign with their first venture forward almost equalised, they won a corner which was swung in causing a scramble inside the penalty area before the ball was eventually fired just wide.

That proved a costly miss as with the next attack the home side doubled their lead , Roult was given far too much room down the left as he continued his run before putting over a cross which was nodded home by Barlow.

The Ensign bench were far from happy with what they were seeing and it soon got worse when just three minutes later the referee awarded Redbridge a penalty when Ogunrinde was bundled to the ground inside the box.

Up stepped Robbie Norris however he only succeeded in blasting the ball well over the bar as Ensign were let off the hook from falling even further behind.

Ensign then had their best chance of the half when a free kick by Dominic Locke was headed just the wrong side of the upright by their striker Ayo Odukoya.

Redbridge continued to attack and showed no signs of that penalty miss affecting them, Ogunrinde curled a shot just over before Harris went on a strong run beating several defenders only to see his cut back unable to find anyone in a blue shirt.

They however were not to be denied the 3rd goal which soon arrived, good work out wide by Farah saw him find Ogunrinde who shot squeezed past Worboys into the corner of the net to give the home side a convincing half time lead.

The second period began as the first had ended as Barlow ran onto a headed pass but decided to shoot early however his effort lacked power and was easily gathered.

Further chances came and went for the home side but it was the away side who got the next goal , a long ball from substitute Dylan Jones found Odukoya who turned inside a defended and put his low shot under the dive of Joe Palmer to give Ensign some hope.

The away side were certainly looking more lively in attack as they showed more intent and had a couple of chances before they pulled yet another goal back.

A throw into the box was failed to clear by the home defence and fell kindly to Jones who swung a foot and fired the ball into the back of the net to reduce the deficit to just one goal.

Redbridge made all their substitutions as they were now at risk of throwing away what appeared a convincing half time lead and it was almost 3-3 when the ball was headed into the Redbridge goal only for the referee to stop the play for a foul on a Redbridge defender.

Redbridge on the counter attack almost scored again when the ball fell to substitute Ibrahim Kehinde but his heavy touch allowed Worboys to come out and gather the loose ball.

The final chance of the match fell to Ensign as Connor Barnaby fired wide from a good position before ex Motorman Ollie Bell was sent to the sin bin for abusive language to the official. Redbridge managed to play out the final moments of the game before holding on for a slender victory in a match which was certainly a game of two halves.

report by Adam Silver