Comeback Kings

Picture shows players celebrating the winner from Russell Malton yesterday.
Picture courtesy of DB Sports.

Brightlingsea Regent travelled to play Cray Wanderers for their latest league game. Cray who play at the home of National League side Bromley were flying at one stage clear at the top of the table but have in recent weeks been clawed back by AFC Sudbury and are now sitting second in the table. Another tough game for the R's after the midweek draw against fourth placed Thurrock and this game again saw Regent fall two behind but where as in midweek they could only recover to draw, yesterday an amazing comeback saw Regent collect all three points and move up to seventh in the table.
The home team started very much in the ascendancy and their flowing football from back to front pinned Regent back who struggled to gain any notable possession in the opening 15 minutes. Warren Joseph did well to time his tackle in the area to deny the home side a clear opening with Sam Cowler scrambling to collect the loose ball. The number 11 Duckworth then worked an opening for a shot but dragged his shot wide of the far post. On 13 minutes Cray got the lead that their opening deserved. Another lovely move through the thirds with the ball worked cleverly in the area, the number 9 Hunt, collecting a deft touch from Dent before bending the ball into the top corner from 10 yards to make it 1-0. Regent finally enjoyed a little possession with Ricky Griggs and Russell Malton combining well before the cross was punched clear by the keeper but only to Terry Rymer, his weak effort was easily cleared from the line. The home side still controlled possession and their fluid style saw Regent too passive and struggling to gain any momentum. The home side increased their lead on 22 minutes, the scorer Hunt bagging his second after collecting the ball and running at the Regent back line, afforded too much space at the edge of the area he moved the ball to the right before arrowing his shot from a tight angle into the far bottom corner for 2-0. For the most die hard of Regent followers it looked at this stage like it could be a very long afternoon but amazingly after the second goal Regent reacted and the game began to change, just two minutes later the R's had reduced the deficit. Russell Malton passing into Terry Rymer who held the ball up before a clever flick behind was into the run of Luke Read who crossed for Jake Clowsley to fire home and make it 2-1. The game was more even and on 28 minutes Regent made it 2-2 with another good goal. The ball was played into Luke Read who passed into the driving run of Russell Malton who had timed his run perfectly beyond the left back and his composure to drive forward and drill his shot across the keeper into the far corner was unerring. On 32 minutes Cray Wanderers were forced into a change and they struggled to find that same fluency with Regent either able to win possession or force their possession to be less accurate. Before half time Jake Turner and Russell Malton both saw strikes from outside the box go wide with the half finishing very evenly and without any other clear openings for either side. HT 2-2
Regent pressed much better in the second half and were rewarded immediately, Luke Read and Terry Rymer forcing a hurried pass which was collected and played to Terry Rymer who laid the ball to Russell Malton, once again he drove forward before hitting another sweet strike into the bottom corner from 30 yards to make it 2-3 after less than a minute of the restart. The home side despite being less fluid still worked an opening for the number 8, Dent but his strike was high over the bar before another opening for the 11, Duckworth but once again they failed to work Sam Cowler. Regent carried more threat and a good break forward saw Jake Clowsley weave into the box before it looked like a clip on his ankles but the Referee adjudged he'd dived and booked the Regent number 10. Cray Wanderers made their second substitution on 62 minutes but just one minute later the player Uche Ibemere was sadly stretchered off after a tackle. After the game it was confirmed Uche had broken his leg in two places, all at Brighlingsea Regent wish the player a speedy recovery and hope he's back playing as quickly as possible. Webster made his first change shortly after as Regent began to threaten a killer fourth goal and the pace of Shamido Pedulu who replaced Jake Clowsley saw him immediately break forward before seeing his shot dragged wide of the near post. Terry Rymer and Russell Malton then combined with the keeper wide of his goal and exposed he did well to recover and just smother the ball at the feet of Russell Malton. The home sides biggest threat was mainly now set pieces and their great delivery always made it hard but a towering header from Matt Cripps dispelled any problems. Good combination through midfield freed Luke Read who drove forward and chose to pass rather than shoot from the edge of the area but the home defender did well to cover the run of Shamido Pedulu before clearing. The number 10, Tajbakhsh for Cray then caused danger running at the Regent defence but again they were unable to force Sam Cowler into action dragging the shot wide. Webster made his second change on 83 minutes with Phil Kelly replacing Terry Rymer. Matt Cripps then breaking through midfield as the home side committed men forward saw him into the area but from a right angle the keeper did well to save and deny the Regent skipper. A dominant Regent went closer still when Phil Kelly cut back for Luke Read, his shot bounced off the foot of the post before Jake Turner guided his header but somehow rather questionably the keeper managed to save without it going over the line despite the appeals of the Regent players. Phil Kelly then broke forward again with men committed he ran at the last defender who appeared to haul him down but the Referee again waved the appeals away. The home side forced set pieces but again the R's defended well and held out for a superb win. FT 2-3
An unlikely looking result after 22 minutes against a top side especially but the response from Regent and second half performance saw the R's collect an impressive three points.