Regent out of FA Trophy

Brightlingsea Regent entertained Thamesmead Town at North Road in their FA Trophy replay. The two sides had played out a 1-1 draw on Saturday and in this replay it was the visitors who progressed to face Ramsgate at home in the next round. A tight, fast paced game saw the visitors punish Regent for mistakes with the 1-4 score line fairly harsh on the home side.
Webster made one change to Saturday's team with Jake Gould replacing Keiron Baker in the starting line up.
The game was played at a frenetic pace with neither side afforded any time on the ball which made for a scrappy but well contested game. Few chances were created in a tight half and it wasn't until midway through the half when a pass found Phil Kelly who strode into the 18 yard area but rather than take his shot first time he cut back inside but his shot was high and wide of the far post. The away side tried to break quickly on Regent and this looked their most likely avenue. On 30 minutes the visitors took the lead when a long ball was headed by Josh Gould but his clearance fell perfectly for the number 9 who hit his half volley past Andrew Plummer to make it 0-1. Again Regent huffed and puffed but found it hard to create anything of note and after a hard fought half it was the visitors with the only real shot on target that had given them the lead. HT 0-1
Webster made a change during the interval with Josh Mayhew replacing Lamell Howell who had received a knock in the first half. The visitors started the opening stages well but Regent began to gain some pressure with better incisive play and equalised on 55 minutes. Russell Malton doing well out wide before crossing into the box where Phil Kelly rather scuffed his effort which squirmed across the six yard box, Luke Read arriving to tap home and make it 1-1. Just as it appeared Regent were back in the game they were rather sucker punched, a ball into the box was only punched to the edge of the area when it seemed easier to catch by Andrew Plummer, the skipper for Thamesmead returning first time with a perfectly executed lob to make it 1-2 on 58 minutes. This took the stuffing out of Regent but despite this a good turn and volley saw Josh Mayhew's effort just land on the roof of the net as Regent looked for another equaliser. On 71 minutes the visitors added to their lead and in turn put a foot in the next round when Matt Cripps was robbed of the ball, the striker running through and finishing beyond Andrew Plummer to make it 1-3. Webster made his second change, George Clarke replacing Warren Joseph. Ricky Griggs and Russell Malton both did well out wide and put good crosses into the area but nobody was alert or able to add a finishing touch. Deep into the game a break from the visitors saw Ricky Griggs bring down the Thamesmead player, a yellow card was produced and the penalty was coolly despatched beyond Andrew Plummer for 1-4. Kieran Ayling replaced Matt Cripps as the visitors broke again in injury time as the game finished without any further goals. FT 1-4
Hard for Regent who suffered another replay defeat, the effort was spot on by the lads but mistakes and especially the goal to make it 1-2 were too much for Regent on the night to overcome.