Regent held at home

Brightlingsea Regent welcomed Barkingside to North Road for their latest league game and for a change Regent had a week off to prepare for the game due to the midweek game being postponed and rescheduled due to a FA Trophy replay for Romford. Webster was without Michael Brothers who served a one game ban but apart from this had a full squad to choose from with the exception of new signing Ollie Canfer. The away side started well and Regent were well off the pace as Barkingside moved the ball well and were quicker to everything. Andrew Plummer made a superb save after 8 minutes to deny the away side a lead their start deserved. This didn't last for long though as after 10 minutes Barkingside did get a goal, a free-kick was played towards goal and with the wind and an opposition player making it hard for Andrew Plummer in the Regent goal, he lost grasp of the ball and it squirmed into the net for 0-1. Regent looked to improve but still looked out of sorts and the attack minded opposition seemed to unsettle Regent and another good free-kick was this time really well handled by Andrew Plummer under pressure. Regent played a couple of passes in behind the away defence but the away keeper was very quickly off his line on both occasions to clear to safety. After 19 minutes Regent got an equaliser with a well worked set piece seeing a Ricky Griggs corner headed in like a bullet into the top corner for 1-1 by Jake Holman. The game was very stretched but Regent were having a better period now and the away number 4 and Russell Malton were both yellow carded after an altercation at the edge of the area. Regent were putting the away side under more pressure and a succession of set pieces should have seen Regent gain the lead, a shot from Phil Kelly was saved on the line before the follow up from Russell Malton was saved with a an acrobatic dive from the number 4 superbly blocking the goal bound effort. Regent were playing better but the away side still carried a threat on the break but Regent were handling these better and generally playing better, a lovely pass saw Ben Newson in behind the defence but once again the keeper was well advanced and sent Ben wide before he and a defender were able to shepherd the ball to safety. Andrew Plummer was struggling to kick and at times the decisions made by Regent were causing their own problems but luckily for the home side Barkingside were unable to work a great chance off this. Another set piece just before half time again saw a bit of panic in the away defence but the shot this time was tame and wide. The away side also still attacking saw a shot fall onto the roof of the net. HT 1-1
Regent started much better and created another good chance from a corner, Jake Holman collecting the ball but his volley was sliced wide from 10 yards. Russell Malton was the next player to go close but his shot was only into the side netting. Andrew Plummer was forced into another good save after 60 minutes when he did well to get a strong hand on a powerful header to deny the away side. Webster made his first change when Charlie Durling replaced Luke Milbourne who looked to have slightly strained his previously injured hamstring. A potentially big turning point in the game came midway through the half, Ricky Griggs did superbly well to clear up in the area before striding forward and passing into Russell Malton who had beat the away defensive line, 25 yards out and at a slight angle he was dragged back for a couple of yards before eventually going down yet the Referee decided a yellow card was sufficient which seemed generous and hard on Regent. Jake Turner replaced Phil Kelly and the away side also made changes with one of these going close after 75 minutes when he latched onto a pass and held off Jake Holman before seeing his shot saved at the near post by Andrew Plummer. After 80 minutes Regent again went close from a set piece this time the crossbar denying them when Matt Cripps smashed his header against it before being cleared. Josh Gould then had a good chance but his acrobatic right footed volley was high over angle of post and bar. Webster made his final change with Jordan Heath replacing Jake Gould but as Regent looked to gain all three points the away side still looked dangerous on the break so the game ended as it had begun, very end to end. FT 1-1
A point for Regent which takes them back up to 16th in the table and no league game now until the 8th of November as the cup takes over.