Halstead Town beat high-flying Redbridge in Essex Senior League

The Humbugs entertained the Motormen for the first time in 35 years, then playing under the name Ford United, on a wet and slippery Rosemary Lane pitch.

Halstead had a couple of changes including a return after a number of years of Michael Brothers, to lead the attack.

It was a frantic opening with both sides showing intent and it was the hosts who had first sight of goal.

Matt Travell got on the end of a corner but his header simply lobbed up in the air.

Then Joel Older was slipped in by Alfie Cleal but his first effort was blocked and his second shot flashed across the goal.

Brothers' first action was to get away on the left and his cross found Older, but he was crowded out before he could get a shot away.

The opening ten minutes saw the Motormen restricted to hitting the hosts on the break but they clearly carried a threat.

Halstead’s Jordan Blackwell got down the right flank and his cross was cut out by a defender before the resulting corner which was missed by everyone and reached Travell at the back post, who turned it home.

The lead really shouldn’t have lasted more than a minute as Jack Chawner got down the flank and his cross ended with Anthony Martin, who failed to hit the target when it was easier to score.

Cleal then played in Older down the left for Halstead but keeper Connor Wheatley saved with his feet to prevent the hosts extending their lead.

The visitors then had a penalty shout rejected, as Ryan Carter got the wrong side of Soloman Ogunwomoju and seemed to trip him.

Redbridge spurned another chance as firstly Martin’s effort was blocked but the rebound fell to Jerold Cobblah who sliced his effort wide.

Halstead then had a numerical advantage for ten minutes as Simon Bamidele was sin binned for something he said to the assistant.

The Humbugs finally added to their tally on 39 minutes when Oli Lonton crossed from the left and Brothers was on hand to head home.

Redbridge again responded well but the hosts lead remained at two as Cherry did well under pressure to punch clear and the sinned binned player then returned to the field, so parity was restored in respect to players on the pitch.

The second half had a much quieter start but Halstead were reduced to ten men for ten minutes as Brothers incurred the wrath of the referee and was given time on the sidelines to contemplate his actions.

Redbridge were on the charge and were only denied by a superb save by Cherry as he came out quickly to block as Michael Pindy broke through the Halstead defensive line.

Tom White's effort flew well wide before Brothers returned to the pitch with Halstead still holding a two-goal advantage.

The visitors pressed but most of their threats were coming from long throws.

The Halstead defence were working hard, with both Robbie Bennett and Travell breaking down attacks.

Loui Hazelwood earned Redbridge a free-kick 30 yards out which he took himself, and Cherry needed to scramble across his goal to save and then get up quickly to ensure the ball went to safety with Martin rushing in.

The pressure was mounting on the home defence and it needed a last gasp block, a combination of Cherry and Travell, but with a hint of handball but again the referee was unmoved by the visitors' penalty appeals.

Jamie Price was the next Redbridge player to spurn a chance as he skied his effort from the edge of the box, as the game moved into the final stages.

Cherry touched an effort around the post to preserve Halstead’s advantage, as the hosts claimed back-to-back wins for the first time this season.