Regent's rapid response

Brightlingsea Regent travelled to Witham Town for their latest league game on Tuesday night. This game has been postponed on three previous occasions with a waterlogged pitch and an issue with the floodlights at the Spa Road ground too causing the game to be delayed. Despite heavy rain the pitch had held up well to allow the game to be played and the repaired floodlights it must be said are now superb. Both teams went into the game off defeats, the home sides defeat at Barkingside sees them just two points above the relegation places whilst the defeat for Regent had left them still two places below the last play off spot six points behind current holders Cheshunt with two games in hand. Regent completed a double on the team who knocked them out of the FA Cup winning 0-3 just two weeks after winning 4-0 at North Road with a good reaction from the game on Saturday largely dominating this local derby.
Regent started the game well with both sides working hard to deny and restrict space. Regent looked dangerous from the off and a driving run from Ricky Griggs saw his cross just scrambled clear before the R's could get a telling touch. Regent took the lead after just 12 minutes. Terry Rymer collecting the ball outside the left side of the area before cutting inside and beating two defenders and shooting into the far corner to make it 0-1, the keeper unable to keep it out despite a heavy hand to the ball. Phil Kelly nearly increasing the lead moments after but the keeper did well to keep the initial header out before reacting quickly to push Phil Kelly's shot against the post from inside the six yard box. A good break for the away side saw them break down the left and the cross into the box saw a possible overload but the header was over the bar of Sam Cowler. Regent who had been caught offside by the high home line had begun to work it out slightly better and Phil Kelly was into the area after timing his run but his shot from an acute angle flicked down off the crossbar before being cleared to deny Regent increasing their lead. The personal battle between Archer in the Witham goal and Phil Kelly continued with Archer denying Kelly with a finger tip save at the price of a corner after a 20 yard strike. HT 0-1
The home side had their best spell at the beginning of the half as they committed men forward and began to press higher up the pitch. Despite this pressure they were still unable to work Sam Cowler in the R's goal who remained untroubled. Good play saw them work the ball wide but the cross come shot was into the side netting. A good move saw the ball into Russell Malton who crossed where the home side were just able to clear. Russell Malton and Luke Read then combined with the keeper denying Luke Read from 25 yards palming his stinging strike over the bar. Regent increased their lead on 69 minutes, Terry Rymer creating space for Matt Cripps who saw his effort from a Ricky Griggs corner cleared but Luke Read was first to react and smashed his finish into the roof of the net for 0-2. Webster made two changes shortly after with Shamido Pedulu and Jake Clowsley replacing Warren Joseph and Phil Kelly. Both players were straight into the action and added even more pace and direct play to the Regent play. Jake Gould was denied with the keeper saving his shot after a clever back heel from Russell Malton found him in space inside the area. Keiron Baker replaced Luke Read on 82 minutes. Jake Clowsley made it 0-3 on 83 minutes, a clever run finding him in the area and from an almost impossible angle he bent the ball beyond the keeper. The home side continued to try to find a goal to the end but a strike from distance once again saw Sam Cowler untroubled. Shamido Pedulu did well to break into the away area but was just unable to keep the ball in and get a shot away to add to the R's lead. FT 0-3
A great response from Regent who set up some huge games in the next few weeks with the result leaving them just three points outside the play offs with a game in hand and eleven games left in the season.