Terry Spillane’s Motormen started the game well and were ahead after five minutes when Nathan Gordon found space down the left and picked out Ryan Murray who controlled the ball with his chest before striking the ball home past Aaron Ormond in goal who stood no chance.

Defensively the hosts were looking strong but Forest’s Courtney White should have made the most of a half-chance that came his way when he headed a chance wide with the Motormen’s defence caught on the back foot.

Redbridge thought they had doubled their lead on the half-hour but Mitchell Das unluckily saw a finish from close-range ruled out for offside after Ormond had saved inside his own area. It was unfortunate on the young striker who had linked up well with Murray and Gordon in a bright first half.

Daniel Hopkins has impressed with his work-ethic this season and he doubled Redbridge’s lead thanks to the help of a deflection as his shot from the edge of the area from a Gordon cross found the left-hand corner of the net. It was the midfielder’s second goal of the season.

Spillane would no doubt have gone into half-time a happy man, but Forest struck in first-half injury time when slack defending allowed White to backheel in Manu Dagher’s cross two yards out with the ball going through the legs of Joe Wright in goal before the young keeper could even move.

With the words of their manager and his coaching team locked sternly in their ears, Redbridge came out positively after the break and should have restored their two-goal lead on 50 minutes but Joe Gardner hit the post with only Ormond to beat.

A further chance went begging soon later when Michael Toner’s cross at the back post picked out Murray. The powerful forward couldn’t get the ball out under his feet with Forest clearing the ball to the edge of the area where Das saw a goal-bound effort blocked 10 yards from goal by Matt Redgrave.

Das making his first start since coming back from a loan spell with Sawbridgeworth Town was hauled off shortly after with Ryan Wade coming onto replace him. Wade looked bright and picked out Joe Ellul with a corner only for the utility-player to see a thumping header at the back post saved by Ormond.

Forest were being trapped in their own half and the pressure finally told when White under pressure from Murray and Matt Turpin diverted a cross from the right into his own net 17 minutes from time.

The goal wiped out any chance the visitors had of getting a point and Redbridge made it a Boxing Day to remember when Wade who had struck a post, slotted home from close range after being picked out brilliantly by fellow substitute Shane Wyllie who had skilfully beaten two players down the right-flank.

Redbridge: Joe Wright, Joseph Ellul, Jamie Haywood, Matt Turpin, Glen Golby, Daniel Hopkins, Joe Gardner, Michael Toner (Craig Wood 58), Ryan Murray (Shane Wyllie 73), Mitchell Das (Ryan Wade 66), Nathan Gordon.

Click here for Adam D's interview with our manager Terry Spillane from after the game.