Buckhurst Hill made the short trip to Redbridge to take on Hashtag United, but returned empty-handed after a dramatic afternoon containing red cards, penalties, missed chances and a late flurry of goals.

The Stags started with an unchanged line-up and made the brighter opening. Callum Maltese had the first opportunity of the afternoon, going close, before Hashtag thought they had taken the lead on seven minutes. The effort, however, was ruled out for a tight offside decision.

Buckhurst Hill continued to threaten and, on 10 minutes, striker Shane Temple went close but was denied by Hashtag goalkeeper Whitney.

The first major moment came on 19 minutes when Freddie Buers was shown a red card following a high challenge on Maltese. Buckhurst Hill looked to make the extra man count immediately, with Ollie Fernandez going close from the resulting free-kick.

Despite being reduced to 10 men, Hashtag took the lead just two minutes later. Jaden Crowhurst was brought down inside the penalty area, and the referee pointed to the spot. Misha Djemalli made no mistake, sending North the wrong way from 12 yards.

The remainder of the first half was littered with fouls and stoppages. Just before the break, Hashtag’s Nathan Wilson forced Christian North into an excellent save to keep the deficit at one.

Buckhurst Hill came out strongly after the interval and immediately looked for an equaliser. Harvey Brown fired over before Nicolaou was brought down on the edge of the area. Brown then went close again, with his effort requiring a good save from Whitney.

On 63 minutes, Hashtag’s Ellis Devereux produced an effort which was brilliantly saved by North.

The Stags continued to push forward and were rewarded on 69 minutes. Fernandez launched a long ball forward which found substitute Max Gnandi, who kept his composure to calmly slot the ball home and bring Buckhurst Hill level.

The visitors almost turned the game around moments later. North was again called upon to make an important save, while Temple played a good ball in from the right which narrowly missed the advancing Gnandi.

In the 78th minute, Eves Nyahunda was inches away from finding the net after meeting a Maltese cross.

With nine minutes remaining, Hashtag regained the lead. The ball fell to Bilal Sayoud just outside the penalty area, and he produced a composed finish, placing his effort beyond the reach of the outstretched North.

Buckhurst Hill had a glorious opportunity to level again on 86 minutes. Eli Ackason broke down the right and found Gnandi, but with the goal seemingly at his mercy, the substitute could only fire wide of an empty net.

The final stages became increasingly frantic, with Devereux at the heart of the action for Hashtag. On 87 minutes, his rasping effort was tipped over by North before another attempt seconds later was deflected behind for a corner.

From the resulting corner, Devereux was left unmarked but somehow failed to find the net.

Three minutes into stoppage time, Devereux went close again, this time attempting to chip North. His effort beat the goalkeeper but crashed back off the crossbar and away to safety.

There was still time for more drama. In the fifth minute of added time, Nyahunda attempted an ambitious bicycle kick and made contact with an opponent. The referee awarded a free-kick and, to the surprise of many inside the ground, showed Nyahunda a red card.

With Buckhurst Hill down to 10 men themselves, Hashtag had the final say. In the eighth minute of stoppage time, and with the last action of the afternoon, a cross from the right found Devereux, who finally got his goal to complete the scoring at 4–1.

It was a frustrating afternoon for Buckhurst Hill, who had chances to take something from the game but ultimately saw Hashtag punish them in the closing stages.

The Stags now move on to midweek action when they face Tilbury.