Redbridge eased their troubles towards the bottom of the Essex Senior League Senior Division with a 4-1 home win over fellow strugglers Southend Manor.

Taylor Tombides and Dan Gilchrist both netted braces as Redbridge climbed further away from the relegation battle, whilst also ensuring that their opponents were well and truly in one.

Tombides put the hosts ahead after only 12 minutes, receiving the ball from Petrit Elbi after he held it up and lobbing over the onrushing Connor Pearce.

Marcus Carter and then Tombides had chances to double the lead, but it was Gilchrist who got the second, turning in after Tombides' shot was pushed away.

Manor pulled one back shortly after the restart, though, as Dylan Jones capitalised on a defensive mix-up between Rhys Hughes and Quincy Egbejale and rolled into the empty net.

However, quickfire goals from Tombides and Gilchrist respectively gave the home side a 15-point cushion over Leyton Athletic in second bottom, and they are now in 16th-place.

Leyton Athletic were able to move off the bottom of the table but remain without a win in 2019 after a 0-0 draw against Enfield 1893.

They are now seven points behind third-place Southend Manor but are over the bottom by virtue of a superior goal difference to Barkingside.

Athletic travel to Manor this Saturday in what will be a defining game in the relegation battle.

Ilford fell further into the bottom half of the table with a 3-2 loss at home to St Margaretsbury, who remain in eighth place.

Lanre Balogun and Wilson Fereira had given the visitors a two-goal lead at the break, but a header from Musa Manneh pulled one back for Ilford.

Daniel Ungudi added a third for the away side to seal the game, with Lauric Diakiesse’s goal not enough to spark a comeback for the hosts.

Defeat leaves Ilford 12th in the table, one point above West Essex, Clapton and Sawbridgeworth Town and just one point behind Enfield 1893 and Stanway Rovers.

Walthamstow maintained the pressure on the top four with a comfortable 2-0 win away at Sawbridgeworth.

Dwade James netted the opener from the penalty spot after Ben Crilley was bundled over, and the points were sealed when Luke Stanley’s through-ball saw James get the wrong side of his marker before being clattered by the keeper, but the ball ricocheted off the pair before rolling into the empty net.

Stow are still in fifth place following the win, ten points behind leader Stansted with a game in hand, and six behind second place Hullbridge Sports having played a game more.

West Essex were beaten 1-0 at home by Stansted, who maintained their four-point lead at the top of the table.

The only goal of the game arrived just after the hour mark when Jack Mitchell struck, and the home side were unable to find a way back into it.

West Essex sit 13th, level on points with Clapton and Sawbridgeworth Town but have played two more than Clapton and one more than Sawbridgeworth.

Meanwhile, Epping Town romped to a resounding 9-2 win away at Toby Reserves in Senior Division 4 of the Essex Olympian League.

The win means Town are now just three games away from potentially sealing promotion with five matches remaining in the campaign.

Epping were 6-1 up by half-time and went on to score a further three after the break with Alex Paraskeva, Daniel Garfinkle and Kieran Dickerson all converting braces, and Liam Clifton, Brad Gayer and Eamon Payne also converted.

The club travel to Shenfield next week, and victory could mean that they can seal promotion the weekend after against Canning Town Reserves if results go their way.