Folkestone made the long trip to Brightlingsea on a mild, still evening with high hopes of consolidating their position at the top of the table having won 5-0 in the reverse fixture back in October. The crowd of 136 indicated that the visitors were more inclined to listen to the live match commentary in preference to a 250 mile round trip on the M20 and A12. Nobody congregated behind the home goal.

They faced a Regent side that was scarcely recognisable from the previous encounter with Charlie Turner in goal, a back four of Reid, Littlejohn, Thompson and Mvemba; Locke, Bell, Durling and Carlos Rocha in midfield and Blair and Barnby up front. With absentees including Valter Rocha away on international duty, (how many times has that happened in Regent’s previous history) the subs bench was limited to Gilbert, Flood and Ribchester.

Regent kicked off and, from a throw in, Carlos Rocha put Conor Barnby through only to see him place the ball wide of the far post.

The opening exchanges were pretty even with Folkestone playing some neat direct football up to their pacy front men and Regent looking to play the ball through the defence for Barnby to run on to. Nobody created a clear opportunity with Turner making a good save at one end and Barnby hitting the side netting at the other. Both sides were nervous at the prospect of falling behind and having to come forward and be exposed to the opposition’s pacy forwards.

After 22 minutes Folkestone got the breakthrough when they won a free kick on the left. The ball was cleared out to Smith on the edge of the area who hit a fierce shot which was deflected into the goal past the helpless Turner.

Regent pressed forward to get an equaliser but in doing so left gaps at the back. Five minutes later Folkestone won a corner on the left, headed the ball against the bar and Newman was the first to react to double Folkestone’s lead.

In a repeat of Saturday’s heroics against Horsham, Regent came back at the visitors and Wyan Reid drove forward from the halfway line and hit a spectacular goal into the top corner of the net to make it 2-1.

Regent came back into the game as Regent pressed forward and Folkestone attempted to hang on to their lead. The game threatened to boil over as first Dolan was booked for bringing Mvemba down in full flight and then Barnby was booked for a robust challenge. Tempers were fraying as the referee blew for half time.

Second half
Regent brought on the classy Carlos Flood at half time to replace Connor Barnby. A bright start to the second half, with Reid and Flood prominent. paid off after 53 minutes when good work down the left by Blair and Reid gave Ollie Bell the chance to put the ball away for an equaliser.

From then on it was entertaining end to end stuff with both sides going for all three points. For long periods Regent were under immense pressure at the back, but the combination of Thompson and Littlejohn held firm whilst Carlos Rocha’s trickery and Aaron Blair’s pace and control provided a constant threat on the counter attack.

In the end neither side could fashion a clear cut chance with Paxman off target for Folkestone and Carlos Flood skimming the bar for Regent.
By the final whistle both sides were hanging on to what they had, with some last ditch defending from Regent and some robust challenges from Folkestone which saw Paxman booked for bringing down Aaron Blair.

Match Verdict
Regent came back again from two goals down to get a creditable draw in an entertaining game which neither side deserved to lose. Folkestone will be pleased to see leaders Worthing lose at Bishops Stortford and Regent will see this as a point gained against some classy opposition.

By Paul Ketchley