Redbridge's slim hopes of avoiding relegation from Isthmian Division One North were given a boost by a 1-0 home win over fellow strugglers Heybridge Swifts on Saturday.

The victory was the Motormen's first in the league since beating Wroxham 4-3 at the end of January.

And, after last week's Essex Senior Cup win over Tilbury on penalties, it is two without defeat for Redbridge.

The situation remains critical for Ricky Eaton and Dave Ross' men who are 12 points from safety with six games remaining.

Goalkeeper Niklas Freund – son of ex-Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Stefan –made his debut for the home side replacing the absent Callum Chafer.

While he didn’t have a baptism of fire the former Chelmsford City keeper proved to be a safe pair of hands when called upon.

A nice passing move between Carlos Espirito-Santo and Reside Coxi-Sebastfao almost put in Charlie Portway on goal for an early chance.

But after that brief flurry of action the rest of the first half proved low on chances as both sides battled for superiority in midfield.

Heybridge saw a header from Jordan Palmer saved after 38 minutes by Freund.

Redbridge were arguably lucky to survive a penalty appeal before the break when John Burgess appeared to barge a Heybridge player to the floor inside the penalty area. But the referee waved away the appeals for a penalty.

The first chance of the second period came for the home side when Charlie Parish got up field and saw his close range effort saved by Danny Sambridge.

Hussainou Jaffa also went close for the Motormen when he sent a towering header just over the crossbar. The rest of the half became a war of attrition.

The all-important goal arrived with 19 minutes remaining.

A Redbridge free-kick was whipped in from the left side and Portway reacted quickest to get his foot to the ball and beat Sambridge at his near post.

From there Redbridge managed to hold on for their first league win nine.

On Saturday the Motormen go to Haringey Borough.