Redbridge made the short midweek journey to Cricklefields to face local rivals Ilford in the 1st round of the BBC Essex Senior Cup.

The Motormen were looking to bounce straight back from their weekend defeat at the hands of Romford whilst the hosts tasted league success with a win over Buckhurst Hill.

With six changes to the away line up from Saturday including four reserve players in the squad it gave George Christou the chance to rest a few bodies with the match coming just 48hrs after the Romford game.

From the offset Ilford looked to get the lively Caleb Adomaki-Mensah involved with his pace and trickery down the right flank. He was involved in the first meaningful attack switching the ball across the field to Boxall who saw his shot turned around the post by Connor Wheatley in the Redbridge goal.

The game had yet to really get going with very litle in way of goalmouth opportunities, Robbie Norris and Daniel Okah both had attemps which failed to trouble Ilford keeper Tim Pitman.

A good chance then followed for the Foxes after Wheatley found a shot from Joe Lilly too hot to handle allowing Liam Oliver to pick up the loose ball hower his shot across the box was cleared away to safety.

Lilly was then given too much time and space in a good position outside the area however his shot was always rising , this proved to be the last action of a somewhat tame first 45.

Into the2nd half and an early opportunity from Tayo Josh Olukolo who got forward only to see his effort fly wide of the upright.

Adomaki-Mensah continued to provide the biggest threat for Ilford and he almost wiggled his way through a crowded box before then seeing an effort blocked off the line.

Redbridge were then forced into making a change when striker Solomon Ogunwomoju went off after taking a knock, on came midfielder Charlie Perendes promoted into the side from the reserves allowing Okah to push further forward.

A game of very few chances however it did look like the home side had taken the lead when Lilly shot beat the dive of Wheatley only to see the ball bounce back off the post and across the goalmouth into the Redbridge keeper’s arms.

Redbridge were then reduced to ten men after Samraj Gill saw a red for a late challenge on the far side , the Motormen would now have to see out the final 20 minutes a man down.

Another goalmouth scramble in the Redbridge box as Wheatley blocked an effort on the line seeming to take a knock in doing so.

With time running out it didn’t really look like either side would score and Ilford were not really making the most of their numerical advantage and therefore it was no real surprise to see the whistle go resulting in us going straight into a shoot out.

Redbridge took first only for Norris to blast over however his blushes were soon spared as Whealtley dived down low to save Ilford’s first attempt. Both sides scored next before Shaun Harris fired wide for the Motormen , with Ilford scoring Daniel Okah then saw his shot saved meaning Oliver just needed to score to see his side progress and that he did firing home to put his side into the next round

report by Adam Silver