Regent leave it late

Picture shows Jake Turner wheeling away after scoring a late penalty last night against Thurrock.
Picture courtesy of DB Sports.

Brightlingsea Regent welcomed 4th placed Thurrock to North Road for their latest league game. Groundsman Stitch had once again performed miracles to get the game on, the third at North Road in seven days let alone to get it looking in such good order. The two sides came into the game in good form and both after 3-1 home wins on Saturday. Regent defeating Romford whilst Thurrock were victorious against Heybridge Swifts. Regent were dealt a blow before the game with Phil Kelly failing a fitness test and joining Shamido Pedulu in being unavailable, but Webster did have Terry Rymer back as he had finished his three game suspension. A draw was the end result in pretty much a game of two half's. Thurrock were very dominant in the opening half and raced into a two goal lead before a late goal at the end of the first half and a late penalty in the second half secured a hard earned point for the R's.
The away side settled early and their fluid play allowed them to dictate the opening half with Regent far to sloppy in possession. Regent were grateful to debutant Sam Cowler after 9 minutes. A short free kick was intercepted and the counter attack saw the ball played into the striker who's cross looked like an easy tap in for the Thurrock full back but Sam Cowler did superbly well to scramble across the goal and deny the away full back with a blocking save. On 13 minutes the away side did take a lead which their opening fully merited. Once again Regent were careless in possession and the ball was released to the left back who bounded forward before unleashing a strike from 25 yards which whistled past Sam Cowler to make it 0-1. Regent huffed and puffed and Terry Rymer and Jake Clowsley combined but the away defender did well to thwart Terry Rymer as he looked to break into the area from a break forward. On 27 minutes Regent were once again made to pay for giving the ball away cheaply. A pass through midfield intended for Terry Rymer was comfortably cut out and the ball was played into Cowley who's inch perfect cross was glanced home by Cole to make it 0-2. The away side were moving the ball well and Cowley from the edge of the area could only hit his bending shot over the bar as they looked to increase their two goal lead. It took Regent 35 minutes to find their best passing move and moving the ball from the left side of the defence into Ricky Griggs before he found Matt Cripps but his cross was over hit although collected by Russell Malton, he then saw his return cross easily cut out by the defence at the near post. On 41 minutes and against the run of play Regent got a lifeline. A Ricky Griggs corner was met by Josh Gould, his thumping header was well saved before Jake Clowsley followed up and volleyed home to reduce the deficit and make it 1-2. Just a minute later Regent nearly unbelievably made it level but Terry Rymer leant back and lifted his left foot shot from 12 yards over the far corner of the goal. Into injury time and Sam Cowler had to save well low to his right at the expense of a corner before Regent were just able to scramble clear. HT 1-2
A change of formation in the break and the R's increased possession saw the game change as Regent had much more control in the game. Jake Clowsley had a great opportunity just minutes in to the half but this time his half volley was wide of the far post. Russell Malton then did well out wide but his deep cross was not read and went out for a goal kick. Good combination play saw Terry Rymer roll the ball to Luke Read who struck a sweet strike that the keeper saved well high to his near post. The away side still carried a threat but were finding it harder to keep the ball but did break well with Warren Joseph making a timely block to deny a clear opening. Ricky Griggs broke well jinking past players before seemingly being brought down on the edge of the area but the Referee waved away appeals for a free kick. Terry Rymer missed a golden opportunity to equalise when he hit his shot first time after a good pass into the area, his strike was just wide of the far post from 10 yards. This was his last action as Webster made his first change on 78 minutes with Jake Phillips replacing Terry Rymer and a small reshuffle which saw Ricky Griggs and Russell Malton released higher up the pitch as Regent continued to look for an equaliser. A dangerous looking break forward with the ball worked across the area but Jake Clowsley had recovered well to clear from inside the 6 yard box as the away side looked for a killer third goal. With time running out Jake Gould drove forward breaking into the area before going down under pressure, the Regent appeals were waved away with Jake actually having later admitted he lost his footing. In the 90th minute Regent did get their penalty and the equaliser. Russell Malton picking the ball up deep in the Thurrock half picking out the run of Ricky Griggs with a lovely pass, Ricky heading across where Jake Clowsley was bundled over as he looked to find the finishing touch from 6 yards. The Referee pointing to the spot and Jake Turner after a lengthy delay sending the keeper the wrong way to make it 2-2. Webster made his second change with Lewis Haughton replacing Jake Clowsley who was unable to continue. Thurrock played the ball forward looking to regain the lead but Regent held firm in the two minutes of injury time. FT 2-2
A great comeback from Regent who looked dead and buried at 0-2 against Thurrock who moved the ball superbly well in the first half but a superb second half saw Regent earn a point.