Regent rue missed chances again

Brightlingsea Regent welcomed Heybridge Swifts to North Road for the fifth league game of the season and an important match for both sides with Regent only winning one game to date and the Swifts without a win. After the game it was Heybridge Swifts who were the happiest despite being under the cosh for large spells in the game they recorded their first win with two late goals in each half to secure the three points.
Webster was still without Ben Newson but did welcome back Josh Gould from injury and made a couple of changes to the side that had been beaten heavily in midweek. Heybridge Swifts themselves made changes from their midweek loss and had two new signings in the squad with one starting and one on the bench.
Regent started the game well and were very much in the ascendancy and had a great chance to take the lead after three minutes, Russell Malton playing a sublime reverse pass into the path of Phil Kelly who delayed his shot and then when he did shoot was denied by the keepers legs. Phil Kelly and Jake Gould combined well out wide but the cross from Jake was defended well by the away side who cleared to safety. A long pass was seen out by Jake Holman but the Swifts number 11 tried to keep it on and his pull back was smashed into the Regent goal but the Assistant Referee ruled the ball out after 13 minutes. Regent themselves then saw a goal ruled out after 19 minutes when a pass was played into the Swifts area, Ricky Griggs winning the ball before Phil Kelly swept the ball into the bottom corner but again this time the other Assistant ruled offside. The game wasn't free flowing but Regent were certainly holding the upper hand but after 30 minutes the away side forced two consecutive corners when Regent gave the ball away sloppily in their own half. With the half seemingly heading for a blank the Swifts scored against the run of play, Regent were caught forward and a direct pass out to the right winger saw him cross into the Regent box where a poor clearance was collected by the number 9, Richmond who fired home into the bottom corner to make it 0-1 after 41 minutes. Regent tried to respond and again Phil Kelly was the player who had the chance but when inside the box he dragged his shot wide of the far upright. HT 0-1
The second half very much went the way of the first half but Regent were a little predictable at times and the away defence dealt reasonably comfortably with direct balls into the box. The away attacks were sporadic and Luke Avenell did well when he was called upon to race off his line and clear danger. After 67 minutes Webster made two changes with Sean Bartlett and Jake Turner coming on to replace Terry Rymer and TJ Amass. Regent nearly got the perfect response, Ricky Griggs forcing a corner after another jinking run and his corner was headed by Jake Holman, the header thudded against the bar and Matt Cripps saw his shot the strike the post before falling to Ricky Griggs who hit the side netting. Minutes later another good run and cross from Ricky Griggs saw Phil Kelly head just wide before Ricky again supplied Sean Bartlett this time but his free header was straight at the keeper. With 89 minutes played the Swifts scored a second and in it kind of summed up the season for Regent to date. A long clearance by the away side looked to be no danger, a call was not listened to and a miss control saw the ball bounce up and hit the arm of Jake Gould, always a contentious one but Springett for Heybridge took full advantage bending the free-kick into the top far corner to make it 0-2 and secure all three points. FT 0-2
Another tough one for Regent to take but you can either feel sorry for yourself or work hard and make your luck change and hopefully the players can thrive on the enjoyment it seems to give some people.
uptheR's