A big afternoon in store with plenty at stake with the Motormen in 3rd placed needed a victory combined with a defeat for 2nd placed Saffron Walden to grab the playoff spot whilst St Margaretsbury needed points to avoid the drop whilst having one eye on events at Sawbridgeworth Town where a victory could relegate the Hertfordshire side

It was certainly one where supporters would be forgiven for having one eye on their mobile phones checking results elsewhere.

The match got underway with the first effort falling to the away side when their skipper Sami Moutawafiq firing an effort just wide of the upright.

In the sixth minute Redbridge then came forward for the first time and with it opened the scoring, a ball was swung over falling at the feet of Tony Martin who brought it down and although nothing looked on he smashed the ball from a difficult angle beating Tom Canfield at his near post.

The early strike looked to settle any possible nerves and things went even better just a few minutes later when the home side were awarded a penalty, good work by Ibrahim Kehinde saw him drive into the box where a St Margaretsbury defender got too tight to him and subsequently brought him down.

The striker dusted himself down and got back up to take the penalty which he dispatched sending Canfield the wrong way to give his side the perfect start.

All the play was with Redbridge as the away side showed very little attacking threat, they had further chances to extend their lead as Kehinde, Dean Hall and Jack Chawner all had good opportunities.

Michael Pindy was causing problems for the away defence with his pace down the right flank, one such run ended with him on the ground but this time the referee turned his back waving play on.

With the break approaching the away side did get themselves back in the game, a mix up at the back between keeper George Martin and his defence saw Tom Towell steal the ball and his lobbed effort fell into the back of the net to give the score line a much closer look than the game suggested.

The second period began with a big chance for Redbridge but Tony Martin had his head in his hands as he fired wide when seemed easier to score.

Joe Elliott then saw a header cleared off the line before Redbridge did eventually grab an important 3rd goal to restore their two goal cushion once again. Robbie Norris floated in a free kick which found Kehinde unmarked in the box, he had time to pick his space and slotted home.

A nice passing move from Redbridge almost saw them get a fourth but Norris shot just wide with Canfield beaten.

A rare attack from St Margaretsbury followed as Rodney Clemence did well breaking forward playing in striker Towell but his shot was well blocked and went out for a corner.

Normal service however soon resumed and Dean Hall got on the end of a Norris cross to head home beating the despairing dive of Canfield.

Kehinde then found himself in front of goal as he tried to flick the ball past Canfield who stood firm to make the save but he was not to be denied as Redbridge were then awarded their second penalty of the afternoon.

Substitute Timothy Ogunrinde showed good skill to work his way into the box before he was brought crashing down to the ground leaving the referee no option but to point once again to the spot , in a carbon copy of his first penalty Kehinde sent Canfield the wrong way to grab his hattrick.

With St Margaretsbury heads Ogunrinde found himself in space to rifle the ball into the goal to make it SIX.

With the game nearing its end St Margaretsbury did have a couple of opportunities, firstly Charlie Hill fired over when well placed before George Martin in goal had to be alert to turn a Towell effort around the post for a corner

Redbridge however still looked dangerous and had further opportunities through Ogunrinde and Brocklebank who saw his shot sting the fingertips of Canfield

That proved to be the final action of the day resulting in Redbridge picking up their biggest win of the season however ultimately it proved not enough as Saffron Walden beat Hoddedson to secure 2nd place whilst Redbridge would have to settle for 3rd and therefore miss out by just two points.

For St Margaretsbury they finish 2nd bottom after Sawbridgeworth won away at West Essex and now have to get the calculators out to check their PPG total and await decisions elsewhere to find out where they will be playing their football next season.

report by Adam Silver