Many at Brightlingsea would have agreed that Thurrock were one of the best teams the R's have come across so far this season and the visitors to North Road certainly had the better of a first half that saw the home team struggle to get going.

Whether it was a hangover from a tough Tuesday night fixture just four days earlier against Soham Town Rangers which saw Regent play for eighty minutes with ten men or just the long hard fought season catching up with them, James Webster’s team never looked really comfortable during the early stages of this encounter.

Thurrock on the other hand were clearly pumped up and looked sharp particularly the lively David Cowley who was buzzing around and involved in everything good Thurrock did going forward. The visitors are well organised in defence and centre half Richard Halle was taking care of a rather lack lustre Brightlingsea front line.

Plenty of hard work and endeavour from the Regent players but little to show. The home side did create one dangerous moment when Josh Gould launched one of his dangerous throws towards the Thurrock box. The ball found the head of Halle who could only steer it towards his own goal but keeper Bobby Mason was alert to the danger and made a good reflex save to keep the
ball out.

As the half came to a close the visitors get their goal.David Cowley hits a superb ball with the outside of his boot which finds Stimson. The ball is worked to Remi Sutton whose cross finds Perry Dunn at the far post.The Thurrock centre half volleys the ball past Rs keeper Sam Cowler to make it 1-0.Half Time 1-0 Thurrock.

Brightlingsea have posed a goal threat all season and they started the second half determined to create chances and get back into what was proving to be a tight game.The best of which fell to Robbie Rees who found himself one on one with the the Thurrock
keeper. It looked odds on he would take a shot but instead he took a touch before passing to Tom Richardson who was following the play looking for any re bound opportunities.This gave the Thurrock goalie and defenders a chance to recover and the subsequent shot was cleared by the visitors.

You couldn’t help feeling this was a turning point in the game. Despite Regent increasing the pressure and getting the ball in behind the Thurrock back line more and more,chances were at a premium. Billy Hunt saw a header hit the bar and the Thurrock defenders particularly Richard Halle were having a good game.

As the game came to an end the Thurrock players celebrated whilst James Webster and his men were left to ponder a sluggish performance but still one that saw them create enough chance to win the game.

Still sitting top albeit by only three points after today The R’s will be looking forward to a trip to Waltham Abbey and a quick response.

Gavin Aplin