Brightlingsea Regent started their busy January schedule with a visit to Ship Lane, Thurrock to take on a Romford team that were sitting precariously close to the relegation zone and would offer a stern physical test for the R's.

James Webster once again made changes to his side from the previous game with Sam Cowler making his first start in goal since returning to North Road, Connor Witherspoon dropping once again into the back four to partner Matt Cripps and George Doyle partnering Jake Turner in the Regent midfield. This match also saw the return to the squad of Shamido Pedulu who took a place on the bench alongside Jake Gould, Josh Gould and Harry McDonald.

The travelling army of R's fans would have been looking for their team to make a positive start but sure!y would not have predicted a goal after just two minutes. A speculative through ball was chased by Tom Richardson and as Callum Chafer in the Romford goal came came charging out to clear the danger his right back Ryan Boswell got to the ball first and attempted a back pass to his keeper. He could only look on as the ball went past Chafer and was latched onto by Richardson who ran the ball into the empty net. The R's number nine who once played at Romford will not score an easier goal all season.1-0 Regent.

The Romford back four was soon put under more pressure as Aaron Condon finding space on the right wing was able to get at the full back and deliver crosses into the box. The Regent front players were getting in behind time and again and it was only some last ditch defending or a flag that denied them more opportunities.

Romford's best moments came when the hard working and Greg Akpele got on the ball. The Borough number eight was involved in all of Romford’s more positive moments in the Brightlingsea half but he couldn’t find a way to create any clear cut chances. This lack of cutting edge was to frustrate Romford even more when on twenty two minutes a free kick to Regent just inside their own half led to a second goal. The ball was floated out wide to Phil Kelly who took it nicely in his stride before delivering a fantastic ball to the far post which was attacked by Tom Richardson the ball finally finding the back of the net via the the Romford number four Danny Cossington. 2-0 Regent.

As the first half drew to a close Romford would be disappointed with some of their defensive work and Regent would be wondering how they weren’t more goals to the good given their dominance.

The second half saw Romford pushing forward and trying to get a foothold in the visitors half. Once again it was Akpele who was orchestrating much of the Borough possession and when the home side won and corner it was rare opportunity to get a ball into the Brightlingsea box. As the ball was headed away it seemed the danger had past but a Phil Kelly challenge which brought down a Romford player in the box as he was going away from goal gifted the home side a penalty. Chinedu McKenzie took the spot kick only to see I saved low and to his left by Sam Cowler. Mckenzie was first to react and slotted home the rebound.2-1.

The next ten minutes or so saw Brightlingsea searching for the third goal that would surely kill the game off and it came on sixty seven minutes when a free kick out on the left hand touchline was lofted towards the far post. The ball was met by a blue head but fell kindly to Connor Witherspoon who took it superbly with his left foot on the volley from close range.The Romford goalie made the save but could only palm the ball back out to Witherspoon who side footed it with his right foot into the net.3-1.

There followed a mad five minutes which saw Romford number seven Kai Birchard sent off for a second bookable offence on seventy two minutes and then just a minute later Centre Half Jamie Dicks was dismissed following a challenge and altercation with George Doyle which saw the Regent player on the ground and the Romford defender with his shorts pulled down!

With the home side down to nine it was only a case of seeing out the game and keeping possession for the R's but there was still time or one more goal when Shamido Pedulu who had come on for Phil Kelly found space in behind his full back and as he drove into the penalty box cutting inside the covering defender he unleashed an unstoppable shot into the roof of the net. 4-1 Brightlingsea Regent, and a result that sees the boys from North Road climb to third place with four games in hand and and a tough visit to Bowers and Pitsea on Tuesday evening.

Report By Gavin Aplin