Regent hit 6 again

Regent travelled to March on Saturday in our latest league game looking to stay in the promotion places. Webster had Scott Page back in the squad after a month out with injury and took a strong 14 with Liam Whittaker the only change to the starting line up coming in for the injured Charlie Thompson after the midweek 6-0 win. For once it was a reasonably nice day and the banter bus was stocked up for the long journey. Jamie Clark marred the journey up with his comment just as we arrived which could see him get a tap on the shoulder any day now. The home side started the game brightly and were clearly up for it, after 8 minutes Ricky Griggs looked to have been pushed in the box but the Referee awarded a free kick with the Linesman spotting something else. After 10 minutes though Regent did win a penalty when Ricky Griggs was fouled in the box. Liam Whittaker stepped up and was the coolest man in the ground, so laid back almost asleep as he rolled in to the bottom corner to make it 0-1. An aggressive start by the home side over spilled after 12 minutes when the March number 5 completely losing his head and discipline. Phil Kelly lost the ball out wide and tugged the number 5's shorts who then reacted by wrestling Phil to the ground before trampling over him. All the players rushed to the incident backing their team mates and the Officials stood watching before deciding on the incident. The Referee had no choice but to send off the number 5 but unbelievably the home side felt this was unjust and blamed everybody other than looking at their own players conduct. After 28 minutes it was 0-2 when a through ball that was too long for Terry Rymer looked to be collected by the keeper, he thumbled the ball though and Terry Rymer ran on to the loose ball to tap in to an empty net. March who were very close to the bone in their tackles throughout the half then saw more ill discipline cost them again when the number 2 was beaten by Phil Kelly who glided past him before the number 2 kicked out at him with no attempt at the ball. The Referee again was given no choice and gave the number 2 a second yellow card which saw March down to 9 men. Again though whilst I also back my team and would always back our players I find it amazing that their players and officials once again questioned Phil Kelly's part in it and the Referee feeling that the number 2 was somehow not the player to blame. Regent maybe complacent rather switched off after 40 minutes and allowed the home side a goal back when the number 10 bundled home to make it 1-2. Regent restored their 2 goal lead just before the break when a Ricky Griggs corner was kept alive in the box and lethal Jake Holman fired home from 6 yards to make it 1-3. The Referee blew the whistle which allowed everyone some time to take in the incidents in from a lively first half. HT 1-3
Webster made a change at the start of the half with Scott Page replacing Phil Kelly who was unable to continue after a bruising first half for him. March worked hard in the second half and it probably helped them in the fact that they realised in the break that it was a football game. After 55 minutes Regent made it 1-4 when Sam Holman played in Terry Rymer who slotted under the advancing keeper to score. Webster made 2 further substitutions with Darryl Wallis and Keiron Baker replacing Sam Holman and Warren Joseph. After 70 minutes it was 1-5 after good play from Ricky Griggs saw him play in the supporting run by Keiron Baker who cut back for Scott Page to find the top bins. After 82 minutes the scoring was complete when Terry Rymer found Scott Page who beat 2 defenders and then hit his left foot strike in to the bottom corner to make it 1-6. Regent probably should have added more with some good opportunities but picked the wrong options. FT 1-6
I'm all for winning the battle before you play and keeping football a contact sport but maybe some take the word battle a little to literally. The lads did superbly to keep their heads despite the provocation in the first half and I still find it bizarre that on the March website they choose to look at our behaviour and the Referee's performance, hopefully after reflection they may feel differently as certainly some of their players apologised after the game and were embarrassed by some of their team mates behaviour. The lads boarded back on the bus and a few went out to watch a martial arts event but were a little disappointed as they'd seen more action that afternoon. Some bad music on the way back with Warren playing some Eastern European gay club tunes, Sam Holman with some cheesy tunes and Jamie Clark preferring to sing a Boyzone/Westlife medley! Warren who was out, out,got picked up by his Mummy at 12 from town! Bless