Regent bow out of cup

Picture shows Matt Cripps celebrating his 52nd minute goal which proved to be not enough for the R's.
Picture courtesy of DB Sports.

Brightlingsea Regent welcomed Ryman Premier Division side Enfield Town to North Road for their Alan Turvey League Cup tie. The winners knowing a win would secure a quarter-final home tie against another Premier Division side Wingate & Fichley. Regent had enjoyed a good run in this cup winning away from home against AFC Sudbury, Soham Town and Needham Market. The R's however bowed out to Enfield Town with two first half goals proving enough albeit an excellent second half from Regent who perhaps felt hard done by to not gain something after a spirited second half.
Webster made five changes from the win on Saturday against Thamesmead Town with Daniel Beeson replacing the cup tied Ollie Bowles in goal and Ricky Griggs, Jake Turner and Lamell Howell starting as well as Jake Clowsley making his first start replacing the cup tied Shamy Pedulu.
Regent started the game well with Luke Read seeing an early shot saved at the second attempt by the visiting keeper. Despite a solid start it was the away side who took the lead. A powerful run from Stevens saw him burst into the Regent box and beat Beeson at his near post to make it 0-1 on 14 minutes. Again in spite of a fairly even game Regent found themselves 0-2 down on 33 minutes. Hesitation around the edge of the area saw the visitors take full advantage with a classy finish from Campbell. Regent continued to plug away and after 40 minutes seemed unfortunate to not get a goal back, Luke Read flicking the ball off a defender before Jake Clowsley slammed home from 8 yards which the Assistant rather dubiously ruled out for offside. HT 0-2
A slight change in shape for Regent and the R's came out with much more threat and substance demonstrated by Jake Clowsley, collecting the ball inside his half before bursting through and firing a shot from 25 yards which was well tipped over by the keeper. It took just seven minutes for the R's to get themselves back in the game, a corner was only partially cleared with Josh Gould returning the ball with a low drive which Matt Cripps flicked beyond the keeper to make it 1-2. On 60 minutes Russell Malton nearly repeated Saturday's feat with a stinging shot from 25 yards just flashing past the near post. The away side were less threatening but did force a free kick after a foul on the edge of the area but the ball was drilled high over the bar. Another corner threatened for Regent with Josh Gould seeing his header just wide of the far post. Webster made his three changes within the space of five minutes as he looked for a leveller. Phil Kelly was straight into the action with the defender just able to halt his momentum at the expense of a corner. The away side with a rare break forward had a shot from the left side of the area fired wide before Keiron Baker also fired wide with a half volley from the edge of the area for the home side. With time almost up Regent nearly forced penalties. Jake Clowsley collecting the ball outside the box before weaving into the area but his powerful shot was superbly saved by the keeper before an equally good save from the rebound denying Terry Rymer from a tight angle. The visitors saw out the remaining minutes to progress into the quarter final. FT 1-2
Good luck to Enfield Town in the next round.
With all cups now exited Regent know they have 27 remaining league ties, 11 of these against teams currently above them in the league and 16 against teams currently below them as they attempt to force their way into the play-offs. #uptheR's