Boxing Day football at the TECHSOC.com stadium saw Redbridge host Waltham Abbey in the first fixture between the two sides since April 2016.

The sides had contrasting results pre-Christmas with Redbridge losing 2-1 to Cambridge City whilst Waltham Abbey had a good victory against Witham Town.

The home side started strongly , Joseph Elliott seeing his cross finding Malachi Napa who under pressure fired wide.

The visitors then came close , a loose clearance falling at the feet of Armelindo Mema who tried to the find the far corner and with goalkeeper Samuel Nwabuko beaten it was the post that came to the rescue.

At the other end Redbridge then had a good opportunity, Elliott pulled the ball back for Fotsing Pitoula Wabo who in turn tried to find Malachi Napa who was crowded out.

Mekael Williams then saw his cross turned behind , from the resulting corner Pitoula Wabo in an unmarked position saw his header drop wide.

Nwabuko then had to be alert turning behind a cross cum shot from Ace 'a Laurent , Edwin Mensah then almost got on the end of a corner which just eluded him at the far post.

Abbey were looking the more threatening of the sides, a defensive slip up allowed in Luke Deslandes who cut inside before letting fly however his effort was always heading wide.

The game was becoming a tight affair with defences being on top, Napa and Pitoula Wabo both seeing chances missed for the home side before the impressive Amrit Bansal-McNulty had two chances one dropping wide with the other forcing a save out of the Redbridge keeper.

Redbridge started 2nd period strong on front foot having their best chance of the game within the opening minutes, PItoula Wabo was put through and he twisted and turned his marker inside out before eventually getting in his shot but the delay allowed Abbey keeper Bradley Robinson time to make the stop.

They then had a big let off at the other end as a ball into the middle found Troy Chiabi unmarked with the goal at his mercy only for him to fluff his lines and miskick the ball.

Luke Deslandes then cut inside from the wing before shooting however Nwabuko held on at the second time of asking.
The away side were certainly now knocking on the door and they soon found themselves ahead, a short corner was played back to Bansal-McNulty who then saw his shot headed in from close range by Edwin Mensah.

An immediate chance then followed for Redbridge to respond , a ball was plyed across to Mekael Williams but he chose to go for goal rather than find a teammate who seemed better placed.

That chance proved costly when the visitors shortly doubled their advantage, another short corner eventually saw the ball crossed to the far post finding skipper Sam Robbins who stabbed the ball home after his initial header had been blocked on the line.

The Motormen turned to the bench for inspiration making a triple change, one of those in Rodney Botuli almost getting on the end of a cross but failed to get a decent connection.

The remainder of the match saw Waltham Abbey control the majority of the play as the home side found it difficult to break down a resolute Abbey defence and the best chance fell to the away side when Deslandes only succeded to find the side netting.

Full time was then called in what turned out to be a disapointing afternoon for the home side , they now end the year with a tough away match at Brentwood Town

report by Adam Silver