Second placed Redbridge looked to continue their promotion push as they hosted Southend Manor at the Oakside, with their usual midfield pairing of Jack Chawner and Jake Brocklebank missing Darnell Bromfield made a rare start whilst Michael Pindy returned to the side

An early corner from the home side almost dropped in at the far post needing Christian North to be alert by punching clear, Manor failed to clear allowing Robbie Norris a shooting opportunity however the ball was always rising.

The game was lacking any real goalmouth action at either end as both sides seemed to cancel each other out with defences seeming to be on top.

A good ball through saw the run of Andee Embalo who almost got on the end of it but Michael Corderoy in the Redbridge goal was quickly out to gather.

Pindy then had a strong run down the right flank crossing into Martin who was unable to direct his header on target.

A free kick from

Pindy then switched sides crossing into James Barlow but he failed to get a decent connection resulting in his mishit effort easily gathered by North.

Redbridge were starting to knock on the door as Barlow ran onto a long ball over the top but it just got away from him in the wind and the chance had gone.

Martin then found space as he squared to Norris, he chose to try and beat his man but got the ball stuck under his feet, it was the wrong decision in all honesty as he Pindy out wide unmarked who surely was better positioned to shoot.

Controversy followed as a simple kick up field from Dean Hall seemed to just drift out however the referee to everyone astonishment pointed to the spot awarding a penalty for a supposed handball , the Manor bench were in uproar at the decision as Martin placed the ball on the spot making no mistake from 12 yards.

Shorty after further controversy followed when a ball in was headed back towards goal and with North wrong footed he quickly rushed across his line to claw the ball away however it was evident to all that it crossed the line by some distance.

With no VAR available the referee looked to the official on his far side who unable to confirm from his position made the call for no goal, even the Manor dugout’s faces showed they had rode their luck on this occasion.

The final chance of the half fell to Norris as he saw his free kick look to be heading in to the bottom corner before North got don quickly to push the ball round the post for a corner.

The second half began with Martin and Bromfield combining well to create an opportunity but it came to nothing.

Ben Allen then tried to find room for a shot but the Redbridge defence did well to smother out the effort .

Manor attacked again as a ball up field found the run of Allen and as Jack Roult came across to clear the two came together with Allen falling to the ground, the referee for the second time this afternoon was quick to point to the spot for yet another penalty.

Allen picked himself up to send Corderoy the wrong way ad level up the match.

The goal gave the away side the bit between their teeth as they continued to attack with the game now there to be won.

The remainder of the half saw both sides have further chances as Pindy shot off target before Dan Brock did well to hold off a couple of challenges before firing wide

In truth it was a poor game overall and with sides around them picking up wins Redbridge will certainly see this an points dropped in the final run in .

report by Adam Silver