Regent lose out to late goal

Picture shows Phil Kelly missing a chance midway through the first half of yesterday's game.
Picture courtesy of DB Sports.

Brightlingsea Regent travelled to Maldon & Tiptree for their latest league game. The R's took a good following with them with plenty of supporters swelling the Park Drive gate and giving the Regent players good backing throughout. The two sides had met earlier in the season with Regent winning a close game 1-0 and this game was almost a carbon copy with the Jammers winning this time with a late goal earning them a 1-0 win in a tight game that was poorly officiated throughout for both sides with a plethora of cards in the second half in a game that really didn't warrant it and sadly once again a decent game between two good sides was more about the man in the middle than the players at times.
The home side started well and McQueen was looking a dangerous outlet for them with his direct running. A driving run by 11 working his way into the box before a good covering tackle by skipper Matt Cripps at the expense of a corner halted his run. The game flowed with both sides enjoying spells of possession and Shamido Pedulu did well out wide for Regent earning a corner after a good passage of play. The number 4 for the home side having the first effort at goal for either side but his strike from 25 yards was wide of the far post. A free kick for the home side shortly after when Francis was fouled at the edge of the area was well blocked by the wall and cleared. Regent then created their best opening with Jake Clowsley and Ricky Griggs linking well, the cross from Jake Clowsley looped over the centre back after a deflection but Phil Kelly could only side foot wide from 8 yards with the keeper to beat. The home side then had a loud appeal for a penalty as a stinging shot from the edge of the area struck Russell Malton in the chest/arm area but for once the Referee chose to not favour the home side and waved their appeals away, it would have been a little harsh but certainly seen them given. Regent then went close with two great set piece deliveries from Ricky Griggs, Josh Gould meeting the first with a header but he could only get a weak connection which was easily saved by the keeper. Luke Read then went closer still when his header was acrobatically cleared off the line from the second Griggs corner. The home side created their best chance of the half after a Regent mistake in the middle of the pitch saw Francis drive forward but Sam Cowler stood up well and made the save to deny the home side. HT 0-0
The home side started the half well and again Sam Cowler was alert to save a stinging strike from the edge of the area that was deflected on its way to make it an even better save. Luke Read and Phil Kelly both had strikes from distance but neither connected correctly and they were unable to work the keeper. The Referee then gave two very weak yellow cards with Jake Turner first in the book for a foul which was very harsh. Josh Gould then followed him in the book after not retreating quickly enough with the keepers clearance hitting him, again harshly so with the keeper kicking the ball at him 2 seconds after collecting the ball. Sam Cowler was then poleaxed collecting a corner but this was deemed ok to further demonstrate the inconsistency of the man in the middle. Shamido Pedulu was proving to be a good outlet for Regent and he beat the home defender but from a tight angle he could only fire into the side netting. Francis for Maldon was then booked after diving in the final third. Regent were enjoying a good spell and Jake Clowsley then went close but again like Shamido after cutting back inside he was denied this time by the keeper and a blocking defender from a tight angle. The home side made changes to stop the momentum Regent were building midway through the half. Tenacious play from Jake Clowsley winning the ball back before trying to collect a return pass but as he moved into the box he was clipped by the recovering defender who whilst not intending to, had brought down Jake but the Referee who was in a good position waved this appeal away surprisingly. Shamido Pedulu again beating the defender but his cross was over the Regent runners. Terry Rymer soon after hitting a strike over the bar from 20 yards. As the game appeared to be heading for a draw the home side struck a winner. Ricky Griggs fouled but the Referee waving play on and just a few seconds later an almost identical foul was given for the home side. The free kick was curled into a good area and kept alive with Roast acrobatically scoring from 6 yards to make it 1-0 on 85 minutes. A rather unsavoury incident after the goal with the home Manager cajoling the near Assistant to speak with the Referee which he wasn't doing before the intervention and the Referee then giving Josh Gould a second yellow card to see Regent down to 10 men. Warren Joseph replacing Jake Clowsley on 86 minutes to deal with this sending off. Regent looked for an equaliser with Russell Malton continuing to probe forward but the home side on a break nearly added a second before a good save by Sam Cowler. Charlie Lindoe replaced Terry Rymer in the final stages but Regent were unable to create anything of note before the final whistle. FT 1-0
Regent remain 7th after this defeat and with 13 games still to go its certainly going to be an exciting end to the season for the R's supporters with plenty of twists and turns, a small dent in their push yesterday but the R's are still in a good position with the three teams directly above them on 64 points just three points ahead with Regent having games in hand on two of those teams.