This local derby was a perfect way to see the old year out at North Road with both sides looking to finish 2016 with a win and an important three points.

The visiting Swifts would surely be buzzing from their boxing day victory at home to table toppers Maldon & Tiptree whilst The R’s would be looking to make amends after a disappointing trip to Norfolk and a 3-2 defeat to Dereham Town.

James Webster and his team would be keen to turn dominant performances and scoring opportunities into goals and to break the habit of coming from behind to secure points and letting the opposition back into games. However the character of this Brightlingsea team cannot be questioned and as the boys in red and black took to the field all looked set for a cracking encounter.

James Webster welcomed Angelo Harrop to the Regent dugout for this game with the former Stanley Rover's boss looking to assist Regent in their quest for promotion. There were also changes on the pitch with the absence of Josh Gould seeing Connor Witherspoon partnering Matt Cripps at centre half and George Doyle taking up a midfield spot against his former club. Russell Malton continued at right back with Ricky Griggs on the bench.

The 161 fans at North Road once again witnessed a Brightlingsea team playing some bright attacking football and setting a good tempo against a visiting Heybridge side who were slow in getting out of the blocks. The visitors woodwork was rattled on more than one occasion and it seemed only a matter of time before Regent scored. Brightlingsea were having some good success down their left flank with Jake Gould recently returned from injury breaking up attacks and then marauding down the wing offering support to his forwards. Despite this positive start the R’s hadn’t managed to convert a chance and as has been the case so many times recently it was the opposition who broke away and made the most of their first real chance on goal. As the ball was crossed into the Regent penalty area Adam Adeoye Yusuff met it first and made it 1-0 to the visitors on thirty two minutes.

Brightlingsea must once again come from behind to secure the points. The home fans did not have to wait long for an equaliser as cross found the lively Robbie Rees making a run towards the near post and his glancing but powerful header gave Danny Sambridge in the Swifts goal no chance 1-1.

The second half saw Brightlingsea working hard to secure a much needed three points and finish the year with a win. Connor Witherspoon and Matt Cripps were looking fairly comfortable against the Heybridge attack and with full backs Malton and Gould pushing on to support the attacks Regent were starting to cause the visitors more and more problems. Keeper Sambridge was being called into action more and more as the Regent forwards began to get behind the Heybridge defence and get their shots off. This pressure finally paid off in the sixty fifth minute with ball being worked across the midfield George Doyle got on the ball and looked to slip Robbie Rees in on goal. As Rees tried to take the ball on his left foot it deflected off of a Heybridge defender back into the path of Doyle who had continued his run into the box. He struck the ball first time and steered it past Sambridge and into the Heybridge net to make it 2-1.

As the game edged towards the final whistle Brightlingsea nerves were becoming a little frayed as they gifted the visitors some free kicks around the edge of their box. Dan Beeson and his defence managed to clear the danger and as the referee called time on this New Years Eve derby the relief and satisfaction in seeing this game out to a victory was palpable.

Brightlingsea can put the disappointment of Boxing Day behind them and look forward to a Bank Holiday encounter with Wroxham

Report by Gavin Aplin