Regent Get First Win

Brightlingsea Regent got their home campaign off and running with three points over VCD Atheltic on Tuesday evening.

The hosts started the brightest when within 9 minutes, a searching ball knocked forward from Aaron Condon, met the clever over lapping run down the left from Jake Gould, for him to be knocked to the ground by the VCD defender (Bruce). Penalty awarded! But Turners low penalty was duly saved by the VCD keeper (Freund) and it remained goalless.

The missed penalty could have been costly for Regent when a free-kick was conceded on the edge of the box in the 16th minute, but a smart save by Regent Keeper Ollie Bowles diving to his right denied the VCD striker (Thomas).

Up the other end the R's kept creating chances and on the 22nd minute mark, Aaron Condon tried a clever chip shot from 20 yards but the VCD keeper (Freund) was equal to it and plucked it out of the air.

Regent finally got the breakthrough on the half hour mark, when a ball knocked forward by Josh Gould caused panic in the VCD defence, with a mix up between Goalkeeper (Freund) and centre back (Joseph), allowed the chasing pair of Tom Richardson and Harry McDonald to turn over the possession. The ball fell for youngster McDonald to slot home with a cool finish, his first for the club.

Shortly after, in the 34th minute. Josh Gould was very close to doubling the Regent lead. A perfectly flighted Turner corner met the head of Gould, but was dramatically saved on the line again by VCD's keeper (Freund).

HT 1-0

The second half continued in the same vain and in the 62nd minute, a cross from winger Russell Malton fell to midfield maestro Connor Witherspoon but from 15 yards saw his effort sail high over the bar.

Witherspoon didn't have to wait too long for another chance, when in the 70th minute he managed to double the Regent lead. A corner whipped in by Turner was only half cleared by the VCD defence. The ball came out to the edge of the box where Malton hit a strike towards goal, his effort was charged down but the rebound fell kindly to Witherspoon to smash home from 8 yards.

Regent looked good value for their lead and in the 78th minute, Striker Tom Richardson weaved through the VCD midfield to get a shot off from the outside of his foot. The shot looked only destined for the goal but VCD's agile keeper (Freund) pulled off another remarkable save to tip over from the top corner of his goal.

VCD came at Regent in the last 10 minutes of the game to try and salvage something from the contest. But the R's defence held firm and soaked up the pressure very well with Matt Cripps and Ricky Griggs defending particularly well.

FT 2-0

The Regent players can now go into Saturday's FA Cup clash with Great Wakering feeling confident by getting a decent win tonight.

Regent: Bowles, Griggs, Jake Gould, Cripps, Josh Gould, Witherspoon, Turner, Malton (Ayling 86), Condon (Clowsley 79), McDonald (Baker 73), Richardson.
Subs: Ayling, Baker, Downey, Clowsley, Reakes.
Goals: McDonald (30), Witherspoon (70)
Booked:

VCD Athletic: Freund, Tchonang, Casey, O'Neil, Bruce, Joesph (Imundia 51), Youngs (Guy 60), Hogan, Thomas, Gordon-Young (Akinwande 77), Rees.
Subs: Brown, Nathaniel, Guy, Akinwande, Imudia
Goals:
Booked:

Attendance: 84

Referee: Andrew Gray