Late goal sends Regent out

Brightlingsea Regent welcomed Witham Town to North Road for their FA Cup Preliminary round replay after a 1-1 draw at Spa Road on Saturday. Webster was still without Josh Mayhew but did welcome back Luke Read into the squad from Saturday with under 18 keeper Aaron Reedman also named in the squad as sub goalkeeper.
The game started at a good pace with both sides making it hard for the other to create much of note and in the opening stages like Saturday both defences were largely on top. Regent created their opening two sights at goal through set pieces midway through the half with Luke Read on both occasions first from a header forcing the away keeper into a routine save before his second shot from the corner was wide. The away side took the lead on 35 minutes with a good flowing move, good play down the left with the overlapping left back crossing into the winger Emmanuel who swept home the cross despite pressure from the Regent defence to make it 0-1. Regent got their equaliser in the fourth minute of injury time after pressurising the away defence, Matt Cripps striding forward before the ball was crossed in and set back to Lamell Howell who hit an unstoppable half volley into the top corner to make it 1-1. HT 1-1
Once again the pace of the game was very high and a more open second half with both teams really pushing to win the game. The away side after looking threatening in the early parts of the half again took the lead ten minutes into the half. Once again Emmanuel in the box who turned quickly and flashed a rising shot beyond Plummer to make it 1-2. Once again Regent responded and on 60 minutes made it 2-2, a set piece from Jake Turner was kept alive and eventually steered home by Luke Read despite strong protests from the away side for offside. Just minutes later Regent felt they had taken the lead when Josh Gould steered home another set piece but this time the goal was ruled out which looked very tight from my angle. Webster made his first change on 69 minutes with George Clarke replacing Phil Kelly and the away side also made changes which were very positive and now saw both sides attacking with intent as they both looked for the winner. On 73 minutes Webster replaced Luke Read with Russell Malton. On 75 minutes Regent were again denied a goal when George Clarke and Jake Gordon combined, George flagged for offside as he fired into the far corner. The away side with pace twice seeing a direct ball causing problems with Regent just able to clear to safety. Jake Gordon made a very positive run beating four players but taking his shot too early as he fired wide from 18 yards. In the 90th minute the away side got the crucial goal, Regent trying to play out from the back saw the pass forward intercepted by the fall back who burst forward and the pass eventually into the sub striker Pavett, who kept his composure to finish and make it 2-3. Webster made his final change with Keiron Baker replacing Brendon Heath but unable to create anything in the little time that was remaining Regent were knocked out of the FA Cup. FT 2-3
Good luck to Witham Town who face Thurrock away in the next round.