Ryman One North: Redbridge 2 Needham Market 1

Redbridge completed yet another comeback to topple Needham Market at Oakside after a heroic second-half performance.

Needham Market, who went into the game unbeaten in the league, took an early lead after Sam Newson got to the byline before setting up Kemal Izzet on the edge of the box who finished past David McCartney in the Redbridge goal.

The opening goal seemed to spark the home side into life and chances came fluently for the Motormen, with Eljay Worrell swung in some dangerous deliveries to Emiel Aiken and Daniel Tenkorang who couldn’t find the net early on.

It was McCartney’s first league match in goal after a long-term injury had kept him out, but the shot-stopper was on hand to keep the deficit down to just one as Luke Ingram’s cross found the head of Ryan Melaugh, who teed the ball up for Sam Newson but couldn’t beat McCartney.

But just three minutes into the second-half, Redbridge were level after an exquisite curling finish from Abs Thompson stunned Needham.

The Motormen had their tails up, and it was Emiel Aiken at the heart of all the action for Redbridge who held the ball up superbly for Thompson and Tenkorang to create continuous chances.

Redbridge came back from two goals down to beat Ware 3-2 a couple of weeks ago, so there was plenty of anticipation in and around Oakside for the home side to snatch a winner once again.

Without top scorer Daniel Charge on the pitch, there was suspicion whether Redbridge would get the all-important goal, but Aiken’s pace down the left-hand side was much appreciated by Ben Bradbury who was waiting on the six-yard line to tap home the winner 10 minutes from time.

And the Motormen were inches away from a third as substitute Leslie Thompson came close to his fourth goal of the season with minutes remaining, but Redbridge made sure of a fine three points.

Redbridge: McCartney, Worrell, Barnsley, T Thomas, Smith, Damali, Bradbury, Carlile, Tenkorang, Aiken, A Thompson.

Substitutes: Good, L Thomas, Sawyer, L Thompson, Hussein.