Malton rescues a point

Brightlingsea Regent welcomed Waltham Abbey to North Road and came away with a point which keeps them ninth in the table. A below par performance from the R's against a hard working away side who had to much control in the game for the home sides liking.
The away side started the better and had the better in general of the first half with their general play and work rate with Regent choosing the wrong option on the ball too often. The front three for the away side worked hard and created a chance but the shot was high over Andrew Plummer's bar. Another incisive move shortly after this time saw the midfielder for the away side fire over from the edge of the box. Andrew Plummer did well after the winger had worked enough space to get his shot off which he saved low to his right to concede a corner. Despite winning a few corners the away side failed to work Andrew Plummer any further. It took Regent thirty minutes to create an opening after good play through midfield but Jake Turner could only fire wide from the edge of the area. The away side then saw a header go onto the roof of the net. The R's had their best spell right at the end of the half and Ben Newson was well denied by a block but the rebound was volleyed high over from a good position by Jordan Heath. HT 0-0
Despite a better start to the half it was the away side who forced the first save from either keeper with Andrew Plummer again doing well to get a strong hand low to his right to deny the away side. Webster made his first change on 57 minutes with Russell Malton replacing Jordan Heath. Despite both sides working hard neither could find the quality needed to force themselves ahead. After 74 minutes Webster made his second change with Sean Bartlett replacing TJ Amass and with this a slight change in shape for the R's. Just a minute later the away side did find that extra quality to take the lead. A misplaced pass in midfield saw the away side collect the ball and the number 10 stride forward beating the Regent back line before beating Andrew Plummer from 18 yards to make it 0-1. The away side nearly increased that lead just minutes later but Andrew Plummer did well to stand up and deny the striker a clear effort and his shot was wide. Webster made his last change on 80 minutes and the home side finally got a sustained level of pressure on the away side. Josh Gould was denied by a block on the line before a good cross from Ben Newson was met by Sean Bartlett with the away keeper making a fine save. As it looked like a frustrating performance and result the R's once again showed their character when Ben Newson and Russell Malton combined, Russell Malton burst past defender and keeper before reversing his shot past the helpless defenders on the line to make it 1-1 after 90 minutes. Both sides did look for a winner but neither could create any further openings. FT 1-1
A hard earned point for Regent who battled hard till the end despite a below par performance but good resolve shown by the R's once again to ensure they weren't defeated.