Regent bounce back

Picture shows Josh Mayhew celebrating his 12th minute opener, picture courtesy of Dave Buckingham, DB Sports.

It was non league day yesterday with all clubs hoping to see more supporters backing their local clubs with no Premier league games due to the international break. Regent welcomed Soham Town Rangers to North Road for their latest league game looking to bounce back from their midweek defeat in the FA Trophy. The visitors also going out of the Trophy, the defeat for them saw their Manager leave with a new Management team put in place midweek, so both teams were needing wins to push them up the table.
It was Regent who secured the win with three first half goals and a good attacking display, the second half was a more even affair and rather scrappy at times but positives for the R's who with the win move up to 15th and have games in hand on nine of the fourteen teams above them.
It was the visitors who created the first attacking moment when the lively number 9 got behind the Regent back line, the Referee not awarding a free kick when he fell after a tackle from Matt Cripps but the assistant further away flagged and the kick was awarded. The resulting free kick was comfortably saved by the returning home keeper Daniel Beeson. Regent's attacking play was slick and a good pass into Luke Read saw him turn and slide a pass into Russell Malton but the visitors did well to block and clear the chance. Moments later the two combined again but this time Luke Read dragged his shot wide of the far post. After 12 minutes though Regent were rewarded for their good start, Matt Cripps striding forward with the ball and playing a pass into the run of Phil Kelly, his cross was met by Josh Mayhew who controlled beyond the defender before smashing into the top corner for 1-0. Again good movement from Luke Read saw him collect an exquisite pass from Josh Mayhew, Jake Gould overlapping and crossing but the visitors again managed to block at the expense of a corner. On 26 minutes it was 2-0, a clearance from Daniel Beeson saw Phil Kelly contest the header with the defender, the dropping ball collected by Luke Read and he passed beyond the keeper into the corner of the net. Phil Kelly should have scored when through on goal but after moving onto the ball confidently blazed over the bar with just the keeper to beat. Regent continued to dominate and from a corner nearly added a third but the keeper saved superbly palming away the shot from the top corner to deny Josh Mayhew. The R's were not denied for long though and from the resulting corner, Keiron Baker collected the knock down and half volleyed beyond the keeper for 3-0. Soham had their best spell in the latter stages of the half and Daniel Beeson was alert to come off his line and save with his legs from the left side of the six yard box. HT 3-0
The second half was a rather scrappy affair with the score line possible having an affect on that. The away side pushed on and tried to push the R's back but despite having better possession really struggled to create much of note although did have moments with set pieces their best threat, Ricky Griggs thwarting their best chance with a timely header at the far post. Webster made two changes on 67 minutes, George Clarke replacing Luke Read and new signing Jason Dobbs replacing Keiron Baker. The third substitution for Regent was made on 75 minutes with Josh Gould replacing Matt Cripps. The best chance for either side in the half fell in the 80th minute when George Clarke broke through the visitors defence but his shot was saved at the expense of a corner by the Soham keeper. FT 3-0
A good reaction for Regent who move onto their next game Tuesday, a last 16 tie in the Alan Turvey Cup away to Ryman Premier side Needham Market. Match day sponsors Wes Barton and Neil Turner selecting Josh Mayhew as their man of the match.