Redbridge 2 - 3 Grays Athletic

Redbridge had the early exchanges but it was the Blues who drew first blood when Bradley Thomas found Joe Sweeney in the middle of the park, and his clever pass went to Joao Carlos on the edge of the area. He struck a well hit shot that went low and fast into the left corner to give Grays an early lead inside four minutes to surprise the home side.

In an end-to-end game, one goal was never going to be enough and Redbridge went looking to level. A throw by Tommy Spillane found Lewis Dark clear but he shot wide, and a quick run by Nathan Gordon and cross went to Dan Trenkell and his shot went high over the bar.

Grays rallied with some good football and moved forward. Junior Baker cleared to Sweeney and his pin-point pass to found David Cowley and a sharp save by Adam Rafis turned the ball clear. Redbridge applied pressure and Andy Hall was on form as he parried a shot from Aaron Best and held a cross from Dark. The home side were on top for a period but could not put the ball away, James Robinson being a main culprit when firing over from three yards.

Harry Agombar was starting to stamp his style on the game and fired a free kick just wide and played a ball through to Danny Bunce to fire just over. Redbridge still looked to take the game forward and attempts by Dan Trenkell, Michael Das and Nathan Gordon all came to nothing.

A quick break by the Blues saw Agombar pick up a long clearance and place the perfect pass through to Sweeney to stroke the ball past Rafis to double the lead on the half hour. Redbridge were not about to lie down and immediately upped their pace and physical presence as they pushed forward. A long throw was headed wide by Trenkell, Das hit a shot wide but the Blues defence could do nothing to stop Gordon tapping in from a Ben Bradbury free kick with minutes to go. The Blues were glad to hear the whistle as they went in at half time.

Grays came out for the second half and played their trade mark flowing game. A Carlos run and pass to Sweeney saw his shot go wide. A Redbridge free kick was cleared to Agombar and he found the lively Louis Dennis only to shoot wide. Grays were on top and tried to make their possession count. Carlos found Cowley but his shot went wide. The home side started to get back into the half and forced a corner and Dark headed against the bar when clear.

Grays brought on Jean-Michel Sigere and Kenny Beaney for Sweeney and Bunce as the Blues looked under pressure, and almost at once a Sigere header found Dennis but he shot harmlessly over. Redbridge were pushing forward and it was a clever cross by Bradbury that split the away defence for sub Murray to head in the equaliser.

With twenty minutes to go both sides battled to get the result and a Carlos run and cross saw Sigere head down for Dennis to run in and put the Blues back in front. Redbridge brought Sendall into the game and his extra long throws were kept out by Hall with some effective punching as the half ran its course with the home side pushing forward. Murray headed over and Spillane shot wide as the ref called it a day to end an entertaining and passionate game with the Blues just edging it to stay top of the league.

Grays Athletic: - Andy Hall, Lee Flynn, Bradley Thomas, Junior Baker, Craig Pope, Joao Carlos (Eljay Worrell 86), David Cowley, Danny Bunce (Kenny Beaney 62), Harry Agombar, Louis Dennis, Joe Sweeney (Jean-Michel Sigere 62)

Subs not used: - Grant Cooper, Jason Fontaine.

Redbridge: - Adam Rafis, Ryan Oliva (Billy Sendall 55), Tommy Spillane, Aarun Best, Glen Golby, Dan Trenkel, Ben Bradbury (Jamie Haywood 80), Lewis Dark, Mitchell Das (Ryan Murray 64), James Robinson, Nathan Gordon.

Subs not used: - Edward Wooten, Dan Hopkins