An 83rd minute strike from Ben Sollosi helped Redbridge nick a point against an impressive Faithfold team at the Hive.
The game started in a tepid fashion, save for a brilliant Ben Solossi run down the left which led to a vital save at his feet by Faithfold goalkeeper Ben Law.
It suddenly sprung to life, however, when centre back Adam Hakimi inexplicably stuck out a hand from a cross to give away a penalty. Veteran Daryl Phillips took two steps and then perfectly slotted home the spot kick into the top cornet to give his side a 17th minute lead.
Faithfold might have had another but a looping James Taylor volley was well tipped over by Lee.
Six minutes from the break, Redbridge were level, as Daniel Hakimi wriggled away in the centre before unleashing a speculative shot from 25 yards which found its way into the corner past a rooted Law.
The second half started in a pattern that was to be followed for about 30 minutes with a Law punt deceiving Redbridge defenders and playing in Phillips – who missed a lob from 12 yards. One of a series of fouls on the Redbridge left then proved costly as a brilliant dinked free kick from Alex Levack found the head of Pearson who thrust it home on 62 minutes from 8 yards.
Now in panic mode Redbridge gave away a penalty when Brad Frankel missed a sliding tackle. Levack this time stepped up and scuffed his kick allowing Lee to make the save to his right.
Phillips then missed twice in five minutes, the first of which was a smashed volley from 10 yards which produced an outstanding reflex save from Lee, but the second was a tired effort that went straight at the goalie after he was played in from a long ball. That proved crucial as seven minutes from time Redbridge stole an undeserved point when the ball was cut back from the right hand for Sollosi who struck a fine first time drive from just inside the box to earn his side a point.
Faithfold manager Zuriel Solomon said: “We should have won but as we are well aware, if you don’t take your chances you get punished. I’m proud of how we’ve applied ourselves. I still think we have a chance for the title.”
Commenting on Levack taking the second penalty after Phillips had despatched the first, Solomon said: “They have a pact whereby they alternate them.”
Redbridge manager Sam McCarthy was not happy with his side’s defending: “We didn’t get our defensive game together. We are grateful to our keeper who saved us with the second penalty and one brilliant save in particular.”
Faithfold: Law; Levack, Frenner, Howard; Savitz, Kaye, J Taylor, Dymant, Mandes; Pearson, Phillips
RJC: Lee; Sandford, A Hakimi, Frankel, Leiter; McCarthy, Sollosi, D Hakimi, Lassman; Bern, Summers
