Regent hit four again

Picture shows Josh Gould celebrating his goal yesterday making it 2-1.
Picture courtesy of DB Sports.

Brightlingsea Regent welcomed Great Wakering Rovers to North Road looking to continue their play off charge. Terry Rymer returned to the squad after suspension and under 18 player Ronnie Heather was included in the squad for the first time after a number of impressive games for the 18's. Warren Joseph was a late casualty from the starting line up suffering from illness with Jake Gould taking his place in the starting team.
Regent won this game with the away side really playing a big part in their downfall with their ill discipline, their skipper, Hepburn, red carded after just 3 minutes before a second yellow card for Kent on 90 minutes saw them finish with 9 men.

A blustery day at North Road saw both teams start reasonably well with Russell Malton firing a shot wide early to show the intent from the home side. The away side forced a corner after 3 minutes with the resulting kick seeing a clash between the skipper Hepburn and Josh Gould, Hepburn ruled offside before kicking out off the ball and leaving the Referee little choice but to send him off. This fired up the away side and Regent found it hard to find any fluidity. Shamido Pedulu was found in a good position wide but his cross was over hit and easily cleared. Ricky Griggs went on a driving run with his shot from 25 yards superbly tipped over from Seal in the away goal. The home side despite their man disadvantage took the lead on 17 minutes. Regent giving the ball away in midfield before then failing to clear on two occasions and were fully punished when the cross from the right back cleared everybody in the box except Gilchrist who connected just enough with the ball to find the bottom corner and make it 0-1. Regent responded and within two minutes were level. A Ricky Griggs corner was cleared before being collected by Jake Turner who played the ball into the area where it was knocked down to Russell Malton who from 20 yards hit a sweet volley that flew into the top corner despite the best efforts of the keeper for 1-1. A flowing move from the back then found Shamido Pedulu in the area but from a tight angle he dragged his shot wide. Gilchrist for the away side then saw his shot comfortably saved by Sam Cowler from the edge of the area as the away side still carried a threat especially through the power of the number 10 Nash. Regent made it 2-1 on 25 minutes. A superb corner from Ricky Griggs was met with a brave header from Josh Gould who glanced it into the top far corner. Phil Kelly tried to control a poor clearance from the keeper but with the goal open he couldn't get the ball under control from 30 yards and the defence were able to clear. A sublime cross from Jake Clowsley on 35 minutes after a good move saw Phil Kelly loop his header from a tight angle over the keeper to make it 3-1. Regent looked like they could increase their lead but Seal advanced well from his goal to deny Jake Clowsley from some 30 yards outside his goal. HT 3-1
A superb strike from Phil Kelly from an almost impossible angle was well handled by Seal right that at the start of the half as Regent looked to continue on from where they left off. The away side forced four successive corners as they continued to battle despite their disadvantage in men but Regent defended well and held firm. Luke Read forced the keeper into another save with a strike from the edge of the area which he collected at the second attempt. Webster made his first change on 61 minutes with Terry Rymer replacing Shamido Pedulu. Regent increased their lead on 65 minutes after good play from Russell Malton and Phil Kelly with the industrious Jake Clowsley working hard to keep the ball alive and firing his half volley across the keeper for 4-1. Ronnie Heather replaced Luke Read for his first team debut on 71 minutes and welcomed himself to the game with a yellow card just two minutes later after a mistimed tackle. A shot from the edge of the area was fired wide as the away side continued to work hard and make the game tough for the R's. Terry Rymer did well out wide delivering a good cross which was helped to Phil Kelly but he could only fire high over the bar from 8 yards. Phil Kelly went closer still when his shot from a Russell Malton cross was saved by Seal. Charlie Durling replaced Phil Kelly on 82 minutes, Charlie returning after a knee operation in pre-season. Charlie Durling was straight into the action with a good bending cross finding Terry Rymer but once again Seal was able to save comfortably. A late tackle on Ricky Griggs in the 90th minute saw the player and Ricky Griggs booked before Kent for the away side received a second yellow card which I assume was for dissent as Wakering were reduced to 9 men. Regent gave the ball away in a defensive area but fortunately for them were able to recover before a late strike saw Sam Cowler recover well to save with the opposite hand to pluck away from the bottom corner. FT 4-1
Regent remain in 6th place after this result although most results did go in their favour as the play off spaces became even more compact.