At a wet Oakside Redbridge hosted West Essex with both sides sitting high up the ESL still unbeaten it had the ingredients for an entertaining match.

George Martin was in goal for his first start of the season whilst brother Tony returned to the bench , defender Jack Roult was making his 100th appearance for the club.

A good start from the away side as full back Joe Lamb won his team an early corner, it was swung in finding Cameron Gray who beat a defender to the ball and thumped his headed home to open the scoring after just three minutes on the clock.

West Essex now with their tails up came forward again, a deflected shot looked like it was heading over the head of Martin but he stood firm to bring the ball down to safety.

Redbridge finally settled down and attacked down the left through Solomon Ogunwomoju , his dangerous cross took a deflection which fell kindly into the hands of goalkeeper Arthur Le Blond.

The equaliser however came shortly after , Ogunwomoju showed good persistence to win back a lost ball before squaring into the path of skipper Jake Brocklebank who made no mistake and levelled the score.

Goals change games and now all the momentum was with the home side , good work between Bradley Bennett and Michael Pindy eventually saw the ball crossed into the middle where Miles Peterkin collected before turning and shooting only to see his effort hit a post and rebound away to safety,

Peterkin again was involved when he saw Le Blond off his line attempted a first time shot but failed to get enough purchase on it .

West Essex showed their danger on the break when a good cross came in from Olly Okuguni almost finding Gray however Martin managed to get there first and concede the corner.

Further chances followed for Redbridge through Ogunwomoju and Brocklebank as they ended the half strongly not wanting the whistle to come.

In a repeat of the first half the away side started strongly , a good ball played in looking for Okuguni but was cleared to safety just in time.

A period of the match followed where both sides seemed to cancel one another out with the defences being on top , both sides also turned to the bench for reinforcements.

A great opportunity then fell to West Essex when Gray found himself free in space but Martin was quickly out of goal to thwart him and the chance was gone.

At the other end and substitute Taylo Josh Olukolo did well , his cross found Ogunwomoju unmarked who went for the spectacular volley but mistimed the ball and his shot lacked any real power falling easily into the arms of Le Blond.

West Essex were then reduced to ten men when the referee sent Salio Lo-Seye from the field after an off the ball incident , it meant the remaining 9 minutes saw them defending to stay in the game as Redbridge piled on the pressure.

Good chances came and went for the home side through Ogunwomoju and substitute Tony Martin and as it appeared the game would end all square, deep into added time up stepped Ogunwomoju who struck a delightful free kick around the wall and into the goal , cue ecstatic scenes as the final whistle soon followed to secure all three points.

report by Adam Silver