Times move on and the clocks go back, but Regent kept on moving forwards to build on their excellent result against Lewes with the visit of Hornchurch.

Regent seemed to have been forced into a last minute change with Dom Locke, named on the team sheet, limping around the stands and Bradley Russell wearing the number 8 shirt in his place. Hornchurch turned up in purple with former Regent favourite Wyan Reid playing at full- back. A sizeable crowd of 280 turned out on a cold chill day to see what turned out to be a highly entertaining 90 minutes of football.

Hornchurch got the match underway and dominated the first ten minutes of play. Regent sat back, conceded territory and allowed the visitors to play the ball around comfortably at the back whilst Ola Ogunwamide started to look threatening on their left hand side.

Suddenly home crowd realised that Regent might be playing two players up front with Jesse Olukolu partnering Francis Baptiste. A very late offside flag caught Olukolu out and Jermaine Anderson nearly put Baptiste through. Things looked a lot more even and less of the one-sided contest that everyone had expected.

Ogunwamide still looked the one most likely to make a breakthrough and the referee had words with Jake Thompson and Tosh Singh when they combined to stop one of the winger’s dangerous incursions.

After twenty minutes Regent lost possession on the halfway line and Parcell swung in a diagonal cross to Ogunwamide whose shot was beaten away by Charlie Turner but fell invitingly to Hornchurch’s centre forward Sam Higgins who stayed cool to convert the chance to lead 1-0.

Regent proceeded to chase the game and created several half chances which nobody could take advantage of, at the same time they lived slightly dangerously at the back but got away through a combination of goalkeeping brilliance by Turner and determined last ditch defending by the back four.

As the half drew to a close Olukolu had the best chance of the half but saw his shot blocked. Regent went in behind but were far from out of it, and could look to a second half with all to play for.

Second half
Regent started the second half on the front foot winning an early corner and creating a good opportunity which Baptiste saw saved.
Another corner soon followed. The ball was cleared out to Rusoke who delivered a superb cross from deep to find Zak Littlejohn climbing high to place the ball inside the left-hand post to even things up after just four minutes of the half.

Thereafter it was end to end stuff which Regent survived through a mixture of poor finishing by Hornchurch and steely defending by the Regent players.

Hornchurch made a series of substitutions but to no noticeable benefit. They were equally robust in defence and Wyan Reid was lucky to escape a booking when he brought Olukolu down before Sam Higgins was booked for taking out Jermaine Anderson in full flight.

The best chance to win the game came from good work by a Connor Barmby and Baptiste combination which looped up and forced the goalkeeper to scramble back and tip the ball away.

In the closing minutes Hornchurch had one last chance when the referee awarded a drop ball in a dangerous position after Luke Woodward went down but were unable to get the shot on target.

Match Verdict
This was a first-class performance by Regent against what is probably the best footballing side in the League.

Regent looked far more cohesive playing in a changed formation. The defence held up and created the goal with a combination of Rusoke and Littlejohn. The midfield showed creativity and flair and fed opportunities to the pacy pair of Olukolu and Baptiste up front.

On to next week’s visit to Herne Bay!

By Paul Ketchley