The R's complete a good week

Brightlingsea Regent travelled to 3rd placed Thurrock and the scene of their Essex Senior Cup victory on Wednesday and came away with another victory and arguably their biggest since promotion against promotion chasing Thurrock.
Webster keep faith with the side that had played well Wednesday with the exception of Josh Gould who served a one game ban, Jake Gould replacing him whilst Ben Newson and Amir Berkane who missed the midweek game started on the bench. The home side started well and put early pressure on the R's playing with a high tempo and getting the ball forward early and looking to win second balls high. The first chance fell to the home side but enough pressure by the Regent defence saw the effort go wide. More direct balls were again just about managed by Regent but it took Regent 20 minutes to deal with a consistent amount of pressure, however despite the pressure the home side failed to really work Ryan Bedingfield in the Brightlingsea goal. Ricky Griggs was first to work the home keeper after a driving run but the keeper saved comfortably. The home side were dealt a blow midway through the half when their top scorer was forced off with an injury and this seemed to coincide with Regent beginning to look very dangerous as they starting winning more second balls. Good play from back to front saw Jordan Heath hold the ball up for Michael Brothers but his curling effort was over the bar. After 38 minutes Regent took the lead and it showed that the game had turned in doing so. Another good move forward saw Phil Kelly bending a great effort that was heading for the stantion but a superb one handed save denied Phil. From the resulting corner Ollie Canfer rose highest to head home a Ricky Griggs corner and make it 0-1. After 44 minutes it was 0-2, again Regent breaking up play well with Jake Turner winning the ball high and passing to Jordan Heath who in turn found Phil Kelly, he beat two defenders before firing into the bottom corner from the edge of the area. HT 0-2
The home side came out and looked for a response which they nearly had after five minutes when the number 14 wriggled free but his effort from the edge of the area was wild and high over the bar. Regent gradually settled after the early pressure and increased their lead on 55 minutes, Michael Brothers playing into Jordan Heath out wide but the home defender came across to clear up but his pass back to the keeper across goal was slightly over hit and Russell Malton was alive to this and challenged the keeper and was able to win the ball before finishing into the empty net for 0-3. Again the home side came back at the R's but once again when working a good chance the number 14 screwed his shot well wide. The skipper almost scored an audacious effort midway through the half when he spotted Ryan Bedingfield slightly off his line but it bounced off the crossbar and out of play from the halfway line. Webster made two changes to add solidity with Ben Newson and Amir Berkane and a slight change in shape to stem the growing pressure. Ryan Bedingfield made three important saves within the space of five minutes, he was quickly off his line to smother a shot from the number 14 when through at an angle before conceding a corner when again quickly off his line. Ryan then held well when a stinging shot was straight into his midriff. Not through choice but Regent were attacking less and finally the home side got the goal they were looking for on 74 minutes with a low strike from inside the box after a good cross into the box to make it 1-3. Russell Malton and Phil Kelly combined well with Phil crossing to Ben Newson who controlled on his chest before seeing his well struck shot saved down low right by the keeper. Jake Holman came on for the final change for Regent with five minutes remaining. The home side then hit the post with another low strike from inside the area. Into injury time the home side were reduced to ten men when the skipper fouled Jake Gould and earned a second yellow card. FT 1-3
A superb performance and result for Regent against a good side.