Late goal earns Regent a point

Brightlingsea Regent played their latest league game at home to AFC Sudbury on Tuesday night. Webster made just one change with Charlie Wallis replacing Robbie Lee as sub goalkeeper in the squad and kept the same staring team after the 0-2 win at Romford on Saturday.
The game started at a frenetic pace with both teams working hard to deny space. Regent had the first chance of the match when a deep corner was kept alive by Josh Gould and Matt Cripps collected a pass in the box before holding off the defender and flashing a strike just wide of the far upright. Despite a bright start by Regent it was the away side who took the lead on 11 minutes, working the ball from right to left before clever movement from Bantick saw him collect the ball on the edge of the area and fire low to beat Andrew Plummer and make it 0-1. Regent continued to play well despite this and Phil Kelly was causing the away side problems with his pace and power and did well to deliver a ball into the box but Lamell Howell couldn't sort his feet out and missed the ball and chance from 8 yards to equalise. The away side nearly increased their lead from a corner but the header from Callender was comfortably cleared off the line in front of Plummer in the Regent goal. Good perseverance from Jake Turner and Phil Kelly saw Regent awarded a free kick just to the right of the area but the away side again defended well to clear the well flighted free kick. A good move down the Regent right saw Luke Read pass into the run of Ricky Griggs and his cross was perfect for the run of Jake Turner but his header from close range was straight at the keeper. Just before the interval the away side nearly added to their lead with a Bantick break from a Regent corner, breaking from inside his half he drove at Ricky Griggs before a ricochet saw the ball back into his path on the edge of the area with his shot just squirming wide of the upright after a slight block. HT 0-1
Webster made a change at half time with George Clarke replacing Brendon Heath. The away side did well in the opening half of the second half keeping the ball and making it hard for Regent to find any rhythm pinning the R's back in large spells.
Despite their possession AFC Sudbury found it hard to create anything really clear with Regent holding their shape well. Webster made a second change on 70 minutes changing the shape of the team too with Jake Gordon replacing Lamell Howell. With neither side creating anything of note the game took a turn in favour of the home side when Blackwell for Sudbury was adjudged to have kicked out at Ricky Griggs and was sent off on 71 minutes. Webster was forced into a final change with Russell Malton replacing Matt Cripps and despite pressing for an equaliser it was the away side that nearly put the game to bed when Callender moved into the box, his first strike was smothered by Andrew Plummer but he didn't have control of the ball and a combination of Josh Gould and Andrew Plummer were just able to clear to safety the follow up shot, as Regent broke out Jake Turner was fouled just inside the attacking half. As the away side backed off to defend the free kick, it was played by Jake Turner to Ricky Griggs who strode forward before unleashing an unstoppable shot from 30 yards to make it 1-1 in the 87th minute. Both sides were down to 10 men just a minute late when Russell Malton was caught by Keiron Baker and the remaining minutes saw him on the side of the pitch with a heavy bleed. With neither side able to create anything of note in the remaining minutes the Referee brought an end to the game as both sides settled for a point. FT 1-1
A good game and a good point for Regent who played particularly well in the first half and showed character to snatch a late equaliser.