Regent continue to rise

Brightlingsea Regent welcomed Romford to North Road for their latest league game and the rearranged match that was postponed after 51 minutes when a localised power cut took out the floodlights with Regent 2-0 up. Webster made three changes to the starting line up from the away win on Saturday as the R's looked to continue their recent form and record a fifth straight league win.
Regent started well and pinned the away side back as they looked to gain an early advantage, with only three minutes on the clock the R's took the lead. A fast attack found Phil Kelly but his strike from close range was well saved by the Romford keeper at the expense of a corner. The resulting corner was cleared by the away side but the ball was played back in to Josh Gould who flicked the ball into the path of Ben Newson, he drove at the defender before beating him and crossing into the area, the Romford number 4 unable to do anything other than deflecting the ball into his own net with his knee for 1-0. Regent continued on the front foot as the away side struggled to find an answer to this and after 18 minutes they deservedly added to the lead, once again after clearing a corner, Regent were first to the ball and Russell Malton looped a ball into the area which Ollie Canfer contested with the keeper, with neither able to get a telling contact the ball dropped at the feet of Ollie who fired home for 2-0. Regent looked as though they would add to the lead just moments after when Ben Newson and Phil Kelly combined well with Phil Kelly hitting a rising shot from 25 yards just wide of the upright. Credit to the away side who hung in and gradually came into the game, after 25 minutes they had their first real opportunity when they worked the ball down their right before finding their player on the edge of the area, his well struck shot was comfortably saved by Andrew Plummer who gathered into his midriff. Romford made it 2-1 on 33 minutes when again they worked the ball well down their right before earning a corner, the resulting corner saw lots of players collide at the near post before squirming into the net for 2-1. The game was a little scrappy now and the away side nearly took full advantage when a cross was just cleared by Warren Joseph with the away side threatening an equaliser. HT 2-1
The beginning of the second half was similar to the end of the first half with the game a little scappy and at times threatening to boil over with some fractious behaviour. The away side putting a couple of dangerous crosses into the box which Regent were just able to clear to safety. Webster made his first change after 62 minutes with Sean Bartlett replacing Jake Gould, Sean adding a little more urgency almost immediately and after 65 minutes Regent had a settler. Ben Newson and Phil Kelly combining again with Phil Kelly striding onto the ball before his shot from the edge of the area nestled into the bottom corner for 3-1. This goal settled Regent and they began to use the ball better and it seemed to take a bit of the edge away from the away side, it was looking more likely now that Regent would add a goal if there were any further goals in the game. Ben Newson doing superbly well down the Regent right as he got to the byeline but his cross was just away from Sean Bartlett who collected the ball before over hitting his cross. The away side continued to look for a way back but it was the R's who looked threatening on the break with Russell Malton making a couple of surging runs. Webster made his final changes and added solidity to the side which saw them see the game out to gain three more valuable points. FT 3-1
Another good result for Regent who with the three points moved up to 12th in the league.