Regent make it 8 on the spin.

On Saturday we welcomed Whitton United to North Road in our latest league game. Webster was presented with his award before the game by the League sponsor, Thurlow Nunn for being the winners of the form team of November and December. He accepted a £150 cheque for the club and a £100 cheque for our chosen charity,The Children's Ward at the Colchester General Hospital. Ricky Griggs was unavailable for the game as he was on his stag do and Jake Gould was unavailable as he is on a skiing holiday. This meant a return to the squad and starting line up for Harry Schofield and Scott Page, Ryan Salter also came in to the starting team with Charlie Thompson dropping to the bench. Ritchie Meadows and Gaz Evans both came in to the squad for the first time this season. The away side started the game very well and put us under early pressure working very hard to close down space and moving the ball well. Despite their good start we created the first 2 chances and arguably the best chances of the half. Phil Kelly was played in on the left side of the area and a good first touch allowed him to get his shot off but he fired just wide of the post. The same player Phil then was wide of the same post when his diving header from Warren Joseph's cross missed the target. Whitton themselves then created a great opportunity after 25 minutes, the Whitton player tried an audacious scissor kick when he may have been better placed to control and shoot. Ryan Sakter was replaced on the half hour mark by Liam Whittaker after picking up a muscle injury.After 35 minutes we were awarded a penalty much to the away sides annoyance when the Referee saw an infringement on our player in the box. Without sounding like Arsene Wenger, I didn't see it but Jamie Clark missed the resulting kick firing over the bar. Jake Holman went close just before half time when his shot was well saved by the keeper. HT 0-0
In the second half we had more of a grip on the game and were creating chances with Warren giving us a great outlet on the right,despite this neither team had really worked either keeper. After 65 minutes we were awarded a second penalty again much to the annoyance of the away bench which eventually resulted in their Manager being sent from the dug out. The Referee awarding the penalty after a push in the box which saw 2 players from Whitton and 1 Regent player end up on the deck. Liam Whittaker this time stepped up and slotted home sending the keeper the wrong way to make it 1-0. After 70 minutes we added another goal when Phil Kelly collected the ball on the halfway line before gliding through to the edge of the area beating a Whitton player before bending an unstoppable shot in to the far corner to make it 2-0. Whitton made changes to try and get back in the game but we looked more likely on the break with Julian Simon-Parson nearly capping a good display but his rasping shot from the edge of the area was deflected over the bar. Daniel Beeson came to pluck two corners with great aplomb to relieve any pressure that Whitton tried to put on us. FT 2-0
Another great win against what is always a tough team to beat. The lads again showed great character and a superb work rate to stay 4th in the table. The lads were slightly let down by their skipper Warren who is so obsessed with Webster his now dressing like him and wearing the same hat. #gimp