Regent downed in Brentwood

Picture courtesy of DB Sports showing goalscorer Ricky Griggs in action.
Report from Essex FA who were in attendance at the 3rd round clash.

A first-half Tom Richardson double helped ensure Brentwood Town became the first club into the hat for the last 16 of the BBC Essex Senior Cup, complementing goals from Charlie Portway and Dwade Thomas to quell Brightlingsea Regent.

Richardson did most of the damage before his half time withdrawal, adding the second and third goals after Portway had opened the scoring for the newly-promoted Ryman Premier men. Player of the Year Ricky Griggs converted for the visitors straight after the interval but an instant reply from substitute James at the other end extinguished any threats of a fight-back from Regent, who ply their trade one division below in Ryman North.

Brentwood did the double over Brightlingsea when they competed at the same level last season, though the side they fielded on this occasion was light on league experience, with Saturday’s big FA Cup encounter against Didcot Town approaching. Though 20th-placed Town will still have been many peoples’ favourites to advance past mid-table Regent.

James Webster’s away side started brightly, with Griggs seeing an effort tipped over the crossbar by goalkeeper Martyn Guest, but Brentwood emerged into the game as Richardson sent his own strike narrowly wide from distance. They eventually broke the deadlock on 25 minutes when a deep Portway free kick clipped the underside of the crossbar and bounced down just the right side of the line for the youngster.

Four minutes later Town put Brightlingsea further out of the equation, Richardson classily side-footing into the far top corner from the left apex of the box. Regent didn’t give-up, Josh Gould testing Guest with one of a quick succession of efforts, though the tie was put to bed in fortuitous fashion a minute before the interval.

Custodian Beeson’s goal kick didn’t travel much further than the edge of the box where the ball ran loose and Richardson, spotting him off his line, attempted a hopeful side-swipe which bounced towards goal. Beeson stumbled as he attempted to palm the ball back out but only succeeded in pushing it inside the post and into the net.

At 3-0 it was effectively game over for Brightlingsea, though there was a 47th-minute chink of light as a delivery from the left wing arrowed across the goalmouth and found the unmarked Griggs, who made no mistake in tapping home from ten yards. However, almost immediately from the kick-off, James was sent away to roll low and wide of the advancing ‘keeper to restore the three-goal cushion for Dean Holdsworth’s team.

There was limited goalmouth action for the remainder of the tie, substitutions proving to be a welcome catalyst which the game needed. Regent’s George Clarke rampaged into box but his low drive was no trouble for Guest. Luke Read’s guided curler was also deflected wide. In the 70th minute, Brentwood scorer James won the ball on the right and squared inside to Laurence Vaughan, who somehow side-footed wide when trying to place.

Though a fifth goal would have been harsh on Brightlingsea, who went exceptionally close to reducing the arrears with a dozen minutes left when Clarke’s vicious, 20-yard half-volley rapped the upright, rolled along the goal line and flew wide. Brentwood can now look forward to the Fourth Round Draw, which could see them paired against a professional club.

Brentwood Town: Martyn Guest (C), Will Barry, Ollie Bell, Josh Banton, John Burgess, Leon Fisher, Arthur Rogers, Charlie Portway, Tom Richardson (Dwade James, 46), Jordan Holdsworth, Laurence Vaughan (Charlie Burns, 77). Unused Substitutes: Tommy Oliver, Ruben Duarte, Jack Suters.

Brightlingsea Regent: Daniel Beeson (Robbie Lee, 46), Jason Dobbs (Jake Phillips, 57), Jake Gould, Kieron Baker, Josh Gould, Matt Cripps (C), Luke Read, Brendon Heath, Ricky Griggs, Jake Turner, Lamell Howell (George Clarke, 46). Unused Substitutes: Josh Mayhew, Harry Johnson.

Bookings: Brentwood: Burgess (38, foul), Rogers (40, foul).

Referee: Stuart Cheek (Ilford).

Assistant Referees: Joe Gray (Dagenham) and Dean Markwick (Stanford-le-Hope).

Attendance: 70.
Read more at https://www.essexfa.com/news/2015/oct/brentwood-town-4-1-brightlingsea-regent#O0GGA56OuxmQQMtS.99