Friday night at Wadham Lodge saw West Essex entertain high flying Redbridge who were looking to go second with victory.

Within the first minute the hosts attacked down the left as Dimi Frangeskides won his side a corner, the resulting kick was volleyed over. Frangeskides was looking lively in the opening stages and he showed good skill to turn away from a defender before firing in a sharp volley which was just off target.

Redbridge came forward and with their first attempt found themselves ahead as West Essex failed to clear a ball in the box allowing Tony Martin to fire the ball home.

The motormen attacked this time down the left through full back Jack Roult, he put over a teasing cross into the box just evading the run of James Barlow .

Roult again got forward again as Roult played a ball into the path of Barlow who got in front of defender Emmanel Oluwole who could only succeed in bringing him down in the box, the referee has no hesitation in pointing to the spot.

Up stepped Martin who sent Kalder Ignatiuk the wrong way to put his side firmly in the driving seat.

With the Motormen now in control they almost scored a third, good work by Michael Pindy on the right saw him pull the back to martin looking for his hatrick but he was denied after a good block from the home defence.

Further chances went begging for the away side as first Jake Brocklebank headed a corner wide before Robbie Norris saw his effort saved by Ignatiuk who got down well at his near post

Michael Corderoy in the Redbridge goal then had to be alert as Frangeskides broke away down the left almost finding Symeon Taylor in the box.

Back at the other end and yet another penalty was awarded, this time Joe Elliott found himself in unfamiliar territory and as he tried to round the West Essex keeper he was brought crashing down. Up stepped Martin once again to smash home his 2nd penalty to complete a first half hat trick.

Frangeskides then flashed a cross across the Redbridge box before Norris tried his luck with a curling effort which was always rising.

West Essex certainly certainly needed a quick response in the second half and they got just that as within 2 minutes pulled a goal back, the ball pinged around the Motormen box and on the third attempt Sam McNally bundled home.

That goal meant the home side really had their tails up as they came forward again, Mohamad Kaudeer almost beating Corderoy at his near post.

Redbridge still however looked like they could grab a goal on the break and almost did so when Ignatiuk failed to hold a Brocklebank free kick which fell to Martin who from a tight angle smashed the ball against a post

Kaudeer then made room for himself but only succeeded in firing wide before he got on the end of a pass in the area but fell under the challenge of Corderoy, whilst the Redbridge back line were appealing for offside the referee after consulting with his official pointed to the spot for the third time.

Up stepped Samrat Gill who made no mistake from 12 yards and put his side firmly back into this contest with 20 minutes still remaining.

Redbridge then had a series of corners with Brocklebank coming closest as he headed just over before the Motormen turned to the bench with Tim Ogunrinde and Ibrahim Kehinde coming onto the field.

Ogunrinde had a run down the right resulting in a shot which was well saved by Ignatiuk down low.

Redbridge were ending the game the stronger of the two sides as Barlow this time forced his way through a couple of challenges before he managed to get a shot away which Ignatiuk parried before Elliott came forward from defence blasting an effort well over.

In the final moments Redbridge were reduced to 10 men as Jack Chawner was sin binned before the final whistle was eventually blown giving the away side the 3 points in what had been a decent contest.

report by Adam Silver