A massive six pointer at the Oakside as 3rd placed Redbridge hosted 5th placed Enfield in the race to take the runner up position in the league and with it a possible promotion.

Just two minutes in and the hosts got off to the perfect start when from a long thrown Ibrahim Kehinde sneaked in behind the Enfield defence to head home at the near post.

A set piece then followed for Enfield, the free kick in was headed down by Alex Warman but George Martin in goal was quickly out to gather.

Things soon went from bad to worse for Enfield as from a corner the ball was handled in the box leaving the referee with no other option than to point at the penalty spot.

Kehinde stepped up but his effort smashed back against the crossbar before it was finally cleared to safety, a fortunate escape for the away side.

The early pressure continued from the Motormen as they looked dangerous on the attack especially down the right flank through the energetic Michael Pindy who tested James Bransgrove in goal but the keeper was able to gather at the 2nd time of asking.

James Barlow then put over a cross which Kehinde touched into the path of Pindy however Bransgrove was alert to it and got there just before the Redbridge man.

Pindy then looked to turn provider as he found Kehinde in space who was able to fire in a shot which was deflected behind for a corner.

A rare chance at the other end as player manager Jamie Cureton latched onto a long ball, his first touch took him away from a defender before he tried his luck from distance but the ball fell the wrong side of the crossbar.

A spell of Enfield pressure soon followed as they almost carved out a chance when Cureton headed down looking for Warman but Martin came out to deny the player any chance of a shot.

Another big opportunity for Redbridge via a set-piece, Jack Chawner floated in a free-kick which found Barlow at the far post who saw his header pushed up onto the cross bar by Bransgrove.

Several additional minutes of injury time followed after Enfield skipper Reece Conway received treatment for a head injury, Jack Grosvenor won a header but could only direct it wide before Barlow once again got his head to a free kick but this time only managed to find the side netting.

Into the second period and the hosts had the first effort when Pindy played the ball back into the path of Jerrold Cobblah who was unable to keep his effort down.

Play was then interrupted as Barlow received lengthy treatment, which saw him forced to leave field after sustaining a dislocated shoulder-, he was replaced by Tony Martin

Injuries also forced Enfield into making a couple of their own substitutions, one of those in Samrai Gebrai made a powerful run before looking to find Jeffrey Cobblah but the ball just run away from him.

The game was now starting to become a little scrappy with the referee having to blow his whistle for a series of niggling little fouls, a long throw from Enfield was only partially cleared allowing Gebrai the chance to shot which flew wide of the upright.

The home side then doubled their advantage after a mix up in the Enfield back line saw Kehinde steal in ahead of Bransgrove and he simply squared the ball to the unmarked Martin who passed the ball into an empty goal to put some daylight between the sides.111

Just five minutes later and Enfield pulled a goal back, good work by Cobblah saw his cross find Gebrai who showed good control before firing it home from close range beating Martin. With at least 10 minutes of injury time to be played it was certainly game on.

Well into added time and Redbridge made the game safe, good work by Pindy who held the ball up before putting over a cross which Martin got on the end of and headed home to seal the victory.
Great work by Pindy, held ball up before cross found martin who headed home from close range

There was still time for Tyler Corlett to head against the bar before they were reduced to ten men when Cobblah and goalkeeper Martin came together and although it seemed a case of just two players coming together the referee deemed the Enfield player had gone in late and was shown the red card.

A good week for Redbridge who now go into their final three home games of the season very much still in the race for promotion, there could still be many twists and turns in the remaining weeks of the season.

report by Adam Silver