Brightlingsea Regent welcomed 3rd placed Staines to the Taydal Stadium. Tom Rothery made two notable changes from last weeks defeat, with Phil Kelly and Harry McDonald both starting, Sam Ashford and Jack Newman dropped to the bench.

Regent started the game on the front foot, and showed attacking intent creating the better chances in the first half hour. After 15 minute, a lengthy cross from Jake Turner found the head of Matt Cripps, who out jumped his defender with the ball looping over the Staines Goalkeeper, only to bounce off the top of the crossbar. The follow up was then hooked to safety.

Just some 5 minutes later, this time a Jake Turner corner was met by James Love, with his effort beating the Staines keeper and heading for the net, somehow Lewis Driver got down low to head off the line.

Then after Regent failed to take a chance, Staines took the lead against the run of play, around the half hour mark when a deep cross from Max Worsfold was only half cleared and Miller-Rodney arrived at the back post to smash home from close range. 0-1

Staines then countered and doubled their lead on the brink of half-time, when yet another deep cross from the byline, was headed home by the unmarked striker Elliott Buchanan to take his goal tally to 17 for the season. HT 0-2

With the R’s unfortunate to be behind, The second half showed that Staines were happy to sit tight and defend their lead. Rothery ran the chances and 70 minutes they got one back. Ricky Griggs got the ball down on the right hand side and advanced to the edge of the penalty area, letting go a ferocious strike into the top corner! The ball traveled like an arrow into the net, game bing the goalkeeper no chance. 1-2

With the match looking to pass Regent by, and Rothery urging the Reds forward. Within the dying moments Regent then got a justifying equaliser. Billy Hunt was fouled towards the edge of the box, Aaron Condon then stepped up and hit a beautiful freekick straight past The Swans goalkeeper to rescue the point sending the crowd into raptures. Unfortunately, Condon was deemed to have over celebrated and the ref sent him off with a second yellow card! FT 2-2

A fantastic match for the neutral, Regent will be able to take a lot of belief coming back from a two goal deficit. Next up on Tuesday, we travel to another Promotion hopeful in Margate.