The R's are undone

Brightlingsea Regent welcomed a rejuvenated Cray Wanderers to North Road for their penultimate home game of the season. With just three games remaining both teams needed the three points for different reasons and at the end these were collected by Cray who in doing so made it seven wins on the bounce. In doing so keeping them just outside the relegation places and giving their great escape even more realism whilst the defeat for Regent ended any realistic hopes of a play off place. Webster was without Jake Holman and Ollie Canfer for the game so made two changes to the starting team from Monday's victory with Jake Gould and Jordan Heath coming into the starting line up.
The away side started well and looked sharper around the pitch. Regent did gradually settle and created the first chance with a lovely dummy by Jake Gordon completing opening up the Cray defence and freeing Ben Newson just inside the opposition half, he held off the defender but the keeper came out and saved his toe poke. The away side then had a clear chance of their own when good play out wide found the Cray player but from just 8 yards he sliced his effort well wide. Regent took the lead on 18 minutes with more good link up play from Jake Gordon who found Phil Kelly, his left footed strike from the left side of the area skipped over the diving keeper to make it 1-0. The visitors response was almost immediate and came after Regent were caught on the ball, the winger winning a corner after driving forward. From the corner Regent failed to clear and the number 9 fired home on 20 minutes for 1-1. The Cray number 8 picked up a booking after a foul which saw Ricky deliver a well flighted free kick, Josh Gould seeing his header cleared. On 34 minutes Regent were again punished when they failed to clear properly when the ball hit a Regent player from a clearance the number 10 was adjudged to still be onside and he picked out the number 9 who again finished well firing into the roof of the net for 1-2. Just three minutes later the number 8 for Cray made a late tackle which saw him booked again and sent off. Just before the half ended Regent looked to take advantage and again Jake Gordon was the supplier when he played into Phil Kelly but the 7 for Cray did superbly to just get a tackle in to deny a clear shooting opportunity in the area. From the corner a large penalty appeal from the R's with a strike clearly hitting the arm of a Cray player which the Referee waved away. HT 1-2
Regent forced early pressure on the visitors in the opening minutes but after the start really failed to exert enough pressure and the away side became more comfortable during the half looking dangerous themselves with their pace and power going forward. A good run forward saw the header just over the bar before another good break from the visitors saw a shot from the edge of the area just over the bar and on to the roof of the net. Webster made a change on 59 minutes with Charlie Durling replacing Ben Newson. Phil Kelly shortly after had the best chance that Regent had managed to create when a cross from the left fell to him in the box but his turn and shot from 8 yards was over the bar. The away side continued to press forward and again a driving run saw them find the ball in a central area but this time the curling effort was tipped around the post by Andrew Plummer before they themselves had a penalty appeal with the cross seemingly flicking an arm but again the Referee waved the appeals away. Webster made another change with Warren Joseph replacing Jordan Heath on 70 minutes with Ricky Griggs being moved forward as Regent changed their shape looking for the equaliser. The front three combined as Phil Kelly and Jake Gordon linked up to find Ricky Griggs but the keeper was quick off his line and smothered his shot. On 80 minutes TJ Amass replaced Jake Turner in the final change for Regent. The R's won a corner which was kept alive to see Ricky Griggs side step a defender before shooting but from 8 yards the Cray defence did superbly well to bravely block. As it looked Regent were trying to find a head of steam the away side broke well and sealed the game. Once again though Regent created their own problems when caught on the ball on their left, the Cray player taking full advantage to power forward before finding the substitute who jinked round Andrew Plummer to make it 1-3 on 88 minutes. Just two minutes later a fourth for the visitors who once again pounced on a mistake to attack and the Cray player was brought down in the box for a penalty. The kick was dispatched in off the crossbar for 1-4. With disappointment setting in all around Jake Gordon produced a sublime free kick from 25 yards, bending his shot into the far corner and off the bar to make it 2-4 in injury time. Just before the end the away keeper conceded an indirect free kick after holding on to the ball but he saved the shot from Jake Gordon to deny Regent with their final chance. FT 2-4
A disappointing afternoon for Regent who came unstuck after a great run which had seen them push towards the play offs but with eighth position guaranteed hopefully the lads can finish well and look to climb another place or two.