Brightlingsea Regent made the trip to Cambridgeshire looking to build on a fantastic second half performance at Bowers & Pitsea and to further cement their place in the top three of the League. The fixtures are coming thick and fast for The Rs who with games still in hand will see their squad tested to the limit. Today was going to prove no exception with James Webster once again having to shuffle his pack and make changes. Russell Malton was unable to make the trip to Soham and with Ricky Griggs still injured Warren Joseph was drafted into the right back slot.

As the bright winter sun hung low in a c!ear blue sky over Julius Martin Lane the two sides kicked off. The game started at a frenetic pace with both sides looking to be direct the ball changed possession frequently and neither team were able to build any sort of rhythm or pattern to their play. Brightlingsea were looking a little flat and struggling to get their passing game going whilst Soham were quick to break and cause problems for the Rs with some slick passing and movement of their own. The early exchanges were definitely going Rangers way and on seventeen minutes they scored the games opener. The ball was worked well from the edge of their own box by Soham before some quick passing in midfield saw the ball end up at the feet of Sohams Darren Foxley who held the ball up before passing inside to Ryan Horne. The Soham midfielder struck the ball first time and through a crowd of players to beat Sam Cowler in the Regent goal. 1-0.

James Webster would have been disappointed at how easy Soham were able to move the ball from back to front and to make matters worse he had to make an early change when on twenty minutes Jake Gould had to be replaced by Shamido Pedulu who took a wide right position and left Webster having to adjust his defence yet again. The goal did seem to spark the visitors a little with Tom Richardson crossing for Phil Kelly who took the ball on his chest cut onto his right foot and drove in a low shot which narrowly went wide.Soham were still creating chances of their own and Sam Cowler in the Brightlingsea goal made a smart double save to keep it at 1-0.

Despite the flat performance Regent were still able to cause problems for Rangers particularly when Pedulu and Rees ran at them. And it was the latter who picking the ball up just inside his own half made a driving run towards the heart of the Soham defence. As he stumbled under a challenge on the edge of the box the ball ran to Aaron Condon who's shot could only find the side netting. At the other end Sam Cowler was again called into action as he tipped a looping cross over his bar under pressure. Despite a lacklustre first half performance Brightlingsea had created a few half chances and would feel if they could just find some tempo in the next forty five minutes they could still get something from this game. Half Time 1-0 Soham Town.

The visitors almost conceded a second not long after the re start when Soham were again able to win the ball in their half and move it virtually unchallenged to the edge of the Regent box where it was taken on by Joe Carden who hit a thundering right foot shot which smashed against the underside of the bar before being cleared. Another wake up call for the visitors came a few minutes later when a long throw into the Rs penalty area found the head of Lewis Endecott who helped it on into the path of striker Luke Brown who took the ball first time and really should have score from just a few yards out,the ball flashing past the post and a diving Sam Cowler. The frustration was starting to take hold of the Regent players and Josh Gould was booked for a lunging tackle on Luke Brown. Just two minutes later Webster made another change bringing his big number five off to be replaced by George Doyle. This change saw Doyle take a place in the midfield alongside Jake Turner with Connor Witherspoon dropping into the back four to partner Matt Cripps.

Despite their teams below par performance the travelling fans were in fine voice and were willing their heroes to greater efforts. And a chance soon came when Aarron Condon broke down the left wing.As the covering defender closed in on him Condon attempted to chip Niall Conroy in the Soham goal only to see the ball be taken comfortably by the keeper. Brightlingsea were now beginning to create more chances and as the visiting fans ramped up the volume Phil Kelly twisted and turned on the edge of the Rangers area before hitting a low shot across the goal. On sixty fours minutes Harry MacDonald replaced Tom Richardson who had had a frustrating afternoon leading the Regent line. With Brightlingsea chasing the game at one end skipper Matt Cripps was offering a real captain’s performance marshalling his team and snuffing out the Soham attacks ably assisted by keeper Sam Cowler. Brightlingsea were certainly offering more as the game went on and with fresh legs and running of young Harry MacDonald more chances came their way. The youngster linking with Condon who cut inside onto his left foot before firing a shot that was well dealt with at his near post by Soham keeper.

The visitors finally got their reward when a fantastic cross field ball by Cripps found Aarron Condon out wide. A first time pass found Robbie Rees inside who ran at the Soham defence jinking and twisting before trying to get a shot off with the outside of his left boot.His effort was blocked and fell to Phil Kelly on the edge of the box he struck the ball sweetly back through the crowd of players into the far corner of the net.1-1.

With just over ten minutes to play you could sense the relief amongst the Rs fans who were still in good voice and believing their team had grabbed a hard earned point.Arron Condon then had the chance to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat yet again when a Robbie Rees clearance found Phil Kelly out wide. Condon made the supporting run inside and when Kelly found him with his pass the Rs top scorer was one on one with keeper but he could watch as his shot was blocked at the near post by the Soham goalie. It looked as if the momentum was now with Regent when on eighty five minutes a rare loose ball by Jake Turner was intercepted and as Soham got numbers forward the ball was played out to substitute Cemal Ramadan who's cross wasn’t dealt with by the Regent defence. The ball fell to Darren Foxley who with his back to goal spun and fired the ball past Cowler into the net. 2-1 Soham

The one thing we have learnt about this Brightlingsea team is that they never ever give up until the final whistle and always believe they will create one more chance.And that chance came albeit with a little help from the home team. When Warren Joseph knocked a long ball towards the Soham box on eighty eight minutes there seemed little danger. Soham centre half Lewis Endacott tried to cushion a header back to his keeper only to see the ball drop short and into the path of Aaron Condon who took a touch on his chest before hitting a left foot shot past the stranded Niall Conroy.2-2.

Not the most polished display we have seen from a Brightlingsea team but an important hard earned point that could prove all important come the run in.

Gavin Aplin