The Foxes started the game and took the lead on seven minutes when Rob Carter drilled in a low shot past Joe Wright from just inside the area after beating Glen Golby to the ball after good work by Danny Gabriel.

Aarun Best was making his first appearance for the Motormen since last month’s 1-1 draw at home to Maldon & Tiptree and was impressing with good forward runs and aggressive challenges.

One challenge by the eager Best went unpunished to the frustration of Walton’s side who for all their possession and forward-thinking in the first half failed to push on and grab a second goal.

Mind you with Redbridge’s defence working hard with Joe Ellul once again impressing, Ilford didn’t really create a chance to double their lead with their best falling to Gabriel who saw a shot brilliantly blocked by Ellul.

Michael Toner has begun to find his feet since joining from Heybridge Swifts. He almost put Redbridge level five minutes before the break but saw a chip cleared off the line after Rob Budd had collided with Joe Gardner.

Redbridge came out the break looking much brighter and with Terry Spillane’s and Jody Brown’s words of encouragement in their ear looked sharp on the ball even before Ilford were reduced to 10 men.

Raffael Kaphouris impressed in the Foxes victory at the Oakside earlier this month, but the left-back was rightfully dismissed after a hefty looking challenge which Billy Sendall was lucky to avoid damage from.

Redbridge made Ilford pay and on the hour-mark grabbed an equaliser after a big spell of pressure when Ryan Wade was fouled by Ilford’s keeper Budd in the area following good work by Ryan Murray, Sendall and Gardner.

Wade stepped up sending Budd the wrong way for his third penalty of the season and eight goal of what has been a highly productive season for the hard-working former Cheshunt and Ware forward.

Now back on level terms, Redbridge had a swagger in their stride and they looked intent on taking the lead. After a spell of pressure they did just that with Ryan Murray heading home Vinnie Durrant’s corner on 67 minutes.

It was a great header from the powerful forward and his seventh of the season. Shortly after Spillane took off Murray with Perry Burns on dual-registration from Barkingside coming on as his replacement.

Burns impressed and almost made it a debut to remember seeing a goal ruled out after an Ilford defender went down in the area following a foul from fellow substitute Shane Wyllie.

Redbridge were looking in control but Ilford gave one last rally with their best chance a free-kick from Jonathan Glowacki just outside the box being blocked as Spillane’s side held on to move up to 11th in the table.

Redbridge: Joe Wright, Billy Sendall, Vinnie Durrant, Joe Ellul, Glen Golby, Aarun Best, Joe Gardner (Jamie Haywood 90), Lewis Dark, Michael Toner, Ryan Murray (Perry Burns 70), Ryan Wade (Shane Wyllie 84.

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