Late,late shows costs Regent

Brightlingsea Regent welcomed Burnham Ramblers to North Road for their latest league game looking to bounce back from their disappointing FA Cup exit on Saturday. At the end of the game Regent were forced to settle for a point which was very harsh on the R's who had put in a very good shift and created a number of good chances but a superb bullet header for the away side late in the game denied Regent maximum points but the point did move Regent one place further up the table.
Webster was without Phil Kelly who was serving the second game of his ban and were also without TJ Amass but did welcome back Jake Gould and Amir Berkane who both came into the starting line up.
Both teams settled reasonably well but it was Regent who carried the greater threat throughout the game and were first to test the keeper after 13 minutes when neat interplay found Russell Malton but his driving shot was comfortably pushed over the bar by the away keeper, the resulting corner was cleared. The away side looked to play mainly on the break and carried their best threat at set pieces and after a corner Regent were fortunate to put just enough pressure on the header which was just over the bar. Despite having the slightly better possession Regent didn't fully test the keeper again until the 35th minute, a corner from Ricky Griggs was met by Matt Cripps who's turn and volley was well saved by the keeper then cleared by the defender on the line. Regent eventually made their greater possession tell in the 44th minute, a corner was played in by Ricky Griggs and once again the keeper did well to save the initial header but the ball was kept alive by Regent and the ball was met on the edge of the area by birthday boy Jake Holman who's looping header arched over the keeper into the far corner to make it 1-0. The away side looked for an immediate response and attacked down their right working the ball into the box but the shot was into the side netting. HT 1-0
The away side started the second half well and pushed Regent back in the opening exchanges but after the initial 5 minutes again Regent settled and created a great chance to increase their lead, good play through midfield and a superb pass from Russell Malton found Ben Newson who's movement found him in space 10 yards from goal on the right angle, the keeper came out to close his space and Ben's acrobatic volley beat the keeper but was inches wide of the far post. The same player then made another good driving run into the box but this time his bending shot was just across the face of the other post and wide. Regent were looking dangerous and the away side were finding it even harder to get any fluency in their pay such was Regent's work rate, the R's won the ball again after more persistence and another good pass through found that man Ben Newson again but the keeper did well once again to race off his line and smother his effort with the defence able to deny Russell Malton a follow up. The away side made changes as they looked to change the flow in the game but it was still Regent who looked more fluid and dangerous, Jake Gould and Ben Newson combining well with a carbon copy of Ben's earlier shot again flashing just wide of the far post. With 15 minutes left the away side became more direct and the game became even more detached as they looked to get runners in behind the Regent defence. Webster made his first change with Charlie Durling replacing Luke Milbourne and on 87 minutes he made another change with Sean Bartlett replacing Russell Malton, both players putting in a great shift. With 88 minutes on the clock Regent conceded a corner and from the corner the away side had their first effort on target and what proved to be an equaliser and a share of the points, an absolutely superb header from the corner with the player just beating the Regent defender to the ball and powering into the top corner for 1-1. Webster made his final change with Josh Gould replacing Amir Berkane and the away side sensing victory forced a final corner but that really would have rubbed salt in the wound. FT 1-1
A hard working team performance from the R's and a great reaction from Saturday, not the result that we wanted or deserved in my opinion but we move a place higher in the table.
keepthefaiththeR's